Date:  Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Contact:

Kim Mueller, WSDOT Assistant Project Engineer, 360-412-3422
Lisa Murdock, WSDOT Communications, 360-357-2789

SHELTON – Drivers no longer need to turn left across high-speed traffic to get from State Route (SR) 3 to northbound US 101. A new on-ramp opened this morning, Nov. 12 following a ribbon-cutting event.

“This new ramp significantly improves safety for Mason County drivers,” said Representative Kathy Haigh, one of the 25+ people who gathered in the rain to help celebrate the opening of the new ramp.

Representative Haigh, along with Mason County Fire Chief Bob Burbridge and Lieutenant Smeland from the Washington State Patrol all touted the safer benefits allowed to the community because of the project.

The new ramp provides a safer and more efficient way to enter northbound US 101 by eliminating the need to cross busy southbound lanes. The SR 3 connection to southbound US 101 (toward Olympia) remains the same.

Crews from Tri-State Construction of Bellevue began work on this $3.8 million project in May and completed the project on time and on budget. The project is funded by the 2005 gas tax package.

Of the 391 projects funded by the 2003 and 2005 gas tax packages, WSDOT has completed 167 projects valued at $1.8 billion through the end of September. Another 104 projects valued at $4 billion are either under construction or ready to start in the next six months.

Project information is available online: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/us101/sr3_onramp/.

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