Date:  Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Contact: Mike Clark, WSDOT Engineering Services Manager, (360) 905-2110 (Vancouver)
Abbi Russell, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2058 (Vancouver)

RIDGEFIELD – The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and the City and Port of Ridgefield invite the public to learn more about the I-5, SR 501 Ridgefield Interchange project at a joint open house on Wednesday, June 24.

The project breaks ground this fall, and WSDOT and the Port of Ridgefield are coordinating to save costs throughout construction. WSDOT’s contractor will haul fill dirt from the construction site to the Port’s property on the west side of Ridgefield, eliminating the need to pay for disposal. The fill dirt will be used to assist in the Port’s waterfront cleanup operation.

Two haul routes are being considered for the more than 100 truck trips per day. The first route uses the commercial truck route through the city of Ridgefield. The second would take traffic around Ridgefield, utilizing N 45th Avenue, NW 289th Street and N Main Avenue.

The public is encouraged to attend the open house to learn more and provide feedback on proposed truck routes and traffic impacts.

Details of the open house are as follows:

Wednesday, June 24
5:00 – 7:00 p.m. (stop by anytime)
Ridgefield Community Center
210 North Main Avenue
Ridgefield, WA 98642

Representatives from all three agencies will be available at the open house to answer questions and receive public feedback. There will be no formal presentation, so attendees are encouraged to stop by anytime between 5 and 7 p.m.

The $34 million I-5, SR 501 Interchange project is funded with $10 million from the 2005 gas tax package, $3 million in pre-existing gas tax funds and $11 million in grants and other local agency funds. Earlier this year the project received $10 million from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

For more information about the I-5, SR 501 Interchange project, please visit the project Web page at: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i5/SR501Interchange/.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information

Individuals requiring reasonable accommodations may request written materials in alternate formats, sign language interpreters, physical accessibility accommodations, or other reasonable accommodations by contacting Abbi Russell at (360) 905-2058. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may contact the event sponsor through the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1.

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WSDOT keeps people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or by dialing 5-1-1.

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