Date:  Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Contact: Chris Tams, Columbia Gorge Project Engineer, (866) 279-0730 (Vancouver)
Abbi Russell, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2057 (Vancouver)

BATTLE GROUND – At noon today, WSDOT, Kerr Contractors and the local community joined together to officially open the new SR 502 Interchange. The interchange will provide safer and more convenient access to I-5 for drivers in central and northern Clark County.

“We’re proud to be cutting the ribbon on another one of the 391 projects funded by the 2003 and 2005 transportation funding packages that will make highways safer, eliminate bottlenecks and chokepoints and preserve an aging transportation infrastructure,” said Dave Dye, WSDOT’s Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer. “I applaud the efforts of our WSDOT project team and Kerr Contractors,” he said.

This $52 million project was funded through the 2003 Nickel Legislative Funding Package and is being delivered ahead of schedule and under the original $56 million project budget. The project was programmed as a result of a two-year study of the I-5/I-205 interstate corridor, examining the short and long term interchange needs in this area. Many Clark County businesses and residents participated in development of that plan, recommending a new I-5 interchange near NE 219th Street and the Gee Creek Rest Area.

The new SR 502 connection will reduce travel times by shortening the route from Battle Ground and provide a more direct connection to I-5. Safety will be improved by reducing the number of vehicles using the northbound off ramp of the current NE 179th Street interchange. It will also reduce weaving between the NE 179th Street interchange and the I-5/I-205 junction.

The ribbon cutting event, hosted by WSDOT, featured remarks by regional and local elected officials including Congressman Brian Baird, State Senator Joseph Zarelli and Battle Ground Mayor Mike Ciraulo.

The interchange will open to traffic in time for the evening commute today.

Construction on this project began in April 2007 and was functionally complete in October 2008, a full season ahead of schedule. For more information about the I-5, SR 502 Interchange Project, please visit the project web page at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/SR502/Interchange.

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