Date:  Friday, May 23, 2008

Contact: Joanna Lowrey, Columbia Gorge Assistant Area Engineer, (360) 759-1310 (Vancouver)
Sylvia Ross, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2058 (Vancouver)

VANCOUVER – A project that will make improvements to westbound SR 500 in the vicinity of the I-205 Interchange is set to begin May 27. This contract was awarded to Goodfellow Brothers Inc., who submitted the winning bid of $243,153.50. This project is funded through the 2005 Transportation Partnership Account Gas Tax Package.

Increasing traffic volumes at the interchange, in conjunction with a short merge lane on westbound SR 500, create a high congestion area. This project will lengthen the westbound SR 500 merge lane beyond the interchange area to reduce the risk of collisions.

Construction is expected to last from May 27 through late June. Motorists should expect shoulder closures and occasional lane closures throughout construction.

From 10 p.m. on Friday, May 30 to 4 a.m. on Monday, June 2, the southbound I-205 to westbound SR 500 on-ramp and the northbound I-205 to westbound SR 500 loop ramp will be closed to all traffic. The ramp to Fourth Plain Boulevard and Westfield Shoppingtown Vancouver will remain open.

Crews will be working around the clock to complete construction over the weekend. This closure is necessary in order for the contractor to excavate, pave and stripe the new merge lane extension, all in under 54 hours.

Advanced warning signs will be placed ahead of the construction area, and motorists are asked to observe and adhere to the posted speed limits when driving through the work zone. Motorists are also reminded that all traffic fines are doubled within a construction work zone when workers are present (RCW 46.61.527).

For weekly updates on this and all other state traffic impacts in the region, please visit the WSDOT Southwest Region Weekly Travel Advisory Web page: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Regions/SouthWest/Construction/default.htm.

For more information about the SR 500 – I-205 Interchange Project, please contact WSDOT’s Columbia Gorge Area Engineering Office by phone (360-759-1310), by e-mail ( swGorge@wsdot.wa.gov ) or visit the project Web page at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR500/I205Interchange .

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