Date:  Friday, September 19, 2008

Contact: Mike Clark, WSDOT Engineering Services, (360) 905-2110 (Vancouver)
Abbi Russell, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2057 (Vancouver)

VANCOUVER – Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF) will close the rail crossing at W. 39th Street starting Monday, September 29 to commence construction on a rail bypass line. This construction is part of the Vancouver Rail Bypass and W. 39th Street Bridge project, a partnership project between the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), the City of Vancouver and BNSF.

The rail crossing at W. 39th Street will be closed to all traffic until after the new W. 39th Street bridge is constructed, scheduled for completion in late 2010. Local access will be available at all times during construction. Detours will be signed and are as follows:

• From the west side of the closure: Travel south from W. 39th Street on Fruit Valley Road. Turn left (east) on Fourth Plain Boulevard and left (north) on Kauffman Avenue. Or, continue east on Fourth Plain Boulevard and turn left (north) on Main Street. Turn right or left to continue on W. 39th Street.
• From the east side of the closure: Travel south from W. 39th Street on Main Street or Kauffman Avenue. Turn right (west) on Fourth Plain Boulevard and right (north) on Fruit Valley Road. Turn left (west) to continue on W. 39th Street.

WSDOT and the City of Vancouver will hold an Open House on Tuesday, September 23 to inform the community about the construction work as well as additional closure and detour information.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008
5 p.m. - 7 p.m. (stop by anytime)
Discovery Middle School
800 E. 40th Street, Vancouver WA

The Vancouver rail yard serves as a major hub for both freight and passenger trains. It is one of the busiest rail yards in the Pacific Northwest. More than 100 trains pass through the Vancouver rail yard every day.

The new bypass line will allow passenger trains to bypass congestion caused by freight trains, thereby increasing safety and helping Amtrak’s on-time performance. In addition, a vehicle/pedestrian/bicycle bridge over the railroad tracks at the W. 39th Street crossing will be constructed to enhance safety and connectivity between neighborhoods east and west of Fruit Valley Road in the W. 39th Street vicinity.

For more information on the Vancouver Rail Bypass and W. 39th Street Bridge project, please visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/rail/PNWRC_Vancouver. 

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Drivers can now get real time traffic and weather information by dialing 5-1-1 from most phones. This new traveler information system builds upon the highly successful Washington State Highway hotline that managed 4.6 million calls each year. Callers can also use 5-1-1 to get statewide construction, mountain pass condition, and state ferry system information, as well as toll free numbers for passenger rail and airlines. TTY users can call 1-800-833-6388.

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