Date:  Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Contact:

North Central Region Communications Manager Jeff Adamson, Wenatchee,

Office (509) 667-2815, Cell. (509) 669-8778 E-mail: adamsoj@wsdot.wa.gov

WENATCHEE – Motorists will be using the new US 2/97 interchange at Peshastin six months ahead of schedule. Even though the original plans called for opening the interchange next spring, traffic will be shifted onto the new US 2 alignment Saturday evening.

“This is an example of how creative people can come together, change the rules and solve problems in such a way that everyone benefits,” said Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond. “Our staff, KLB and their subcontractors are delivering the new interchange within the budget and before the snow flies this fall.”

The US 2/97 Interchange project builds a new diamond interchange where the Stevens and Blewett Pass highways intersect between Cashmere and Leavenworth in Chelan County. This $21.6 million 2003 gas tax project addresses safety deficiencies identified in the 2002 US 2/97 Safety Corridor Study.

On Saturday, traffic will be shifted onto the new alignment of US 2 that includes the bridges (overpasses) that will allow US 97 traffic to pass under US 2 and another that will allow orchard equipment to pass under the highway. Traffic has been detoured onto a temporary road to the north of US 2 since construction began. That road will now be lowered to the US 97 alignment and become on and off ramps for the new interchange.

For the next several weeks while the new ramps and US 97 Blewett Pass highway connections are completed, traffic will continue to be controlled by a temporary signal and the speed through the work zone will continue to be reduced to 35 mph.

Work began April 7, a week later than planned, due to unseasonable snowy weather. The project is 30 days ahead of schedule. The project’s prime contractor, KLB Construction of Mukilteo, developed a plan to build the interchange and equipment underpass in a single phase, rather than multiple phases. KLB’s new plan accelerated the work, adding work shifts and an aggressive schedule. Their plan also required renting additional staging and storage space from adjacent property owners.

A ribbon cutting ceremony is being planned for late fall when the interchange is fully open to traffic. Finish work, including seeding and plantings to final pavement adjustments won’t be done until weather permits, next spring. Visit the project web site: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/US2/97_PeshastinEast_IC/

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