Date:  Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Contact: Moe Davari, WSDOT Project Engineer, (509) 577-1872
Meagan McFadden, WSDOT Communications, (509) 577-1618

KENNEWICK – WSDOT will rebuild the US 395 interchange south of the Blue Bridge between Kennewick and Pasco to improve safety and reduce congestion.

Construction on the US 395, Columbia Drive to SR 240 project started Feb. 23. WSDOT, community leaders and the contractor will celebrate the start of construction with a ceremony at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 12, at the Columbia Park East boat launch.

“This important project will improve safety for Tri-Cities-area drivers and ease the movement of freight,” Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond said.

This $16 million project will reconfigure the US 395/SR 240 interchange to improve traffic flow and reduce the risk of collisions. The nine-month project is expected to employ more than 150 construction workers.

In the past three years, the State Patrol has responded to more than 350 collisions on or near the Blue Bridge.

WSDOT and contractor KLB Construction, Inc. of Mukilteo will build two through-lanes for southbound US 395 with an exit ramp to westbound SR 240. To better facilitate Lewis Street traffic merging onto US 395, crews will install a ramp meter.

“Considering our tough economic times, I’m glad to see that our project will provide work to those who need it,” Project Engineer Moe Davari said.

Once this project is complete, drivers will notice less congestion at the US 395/SR 240 interchange and a smoother ride on US 395.

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