Date:  Monday, September 21, 2009

Contact: Allen Hendy, Vancouver Assistant Area Engineer, (360) 905-1522 (Vancouver)
Abbi Russell, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2058 (Vancouver)

Bridge opening marks major milestone for NE 112th Ave. connector project

VANCOUVER – After watching the new I-205 on-ramp bridge at Mill Plain Blvd. go up piece by piece for a year, drivers are now able to use it. Today, WSDOT and its contractor, Selby Bridge Company Inc., are pleased to announce the opening of the new ramp, which occurred Sunday afternoon, Sept. 20. The new ramp increases safety and improves the flow of traffic through this urban interchange.

The new ramp is a 1,100 foot-long bridge that takes traffic destined for northbound I-205 up and over the 112th Connector, which is still under construction. These features are part of the I-205 – Mill Plain Exit – 112th Connector project which, when completed, will provide motorists on I-205 a direct connection to NE 112th Ave. without having to navigate through traffic at Mill Plain Blvd. Construction remains under-budget and on-schedule for completion by the end of this year.

What’s next?
A series of weekend-long closures on I-205 northbound will continue over the next two weeks. Motorists will encounter a single lane closure on I-205 northbound mainline and full closure of the I-205 northbound off-ramp at Mill Plain Blvd. from10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 to 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 28.

Motorists will also encounter a full overnight closure of NE Chkalov Dr. between NE 112th Ave. and SE Mill Plain Blvd. on Monday, Oct. 5 and Tuesday, Oct. 6. Drivers can use local detour routes during the closures, between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. each night. Crews will also close the right lane of westbound Mill Plain Blvd. for paving. Access to all local businesses will remain open during the closure.

These closures are necessary to allow crews to complete final paving, striping and sign work for the new off-ramp connector to NE 112th Ave. Once complete, the new loop ramp will be open to traffic.

Final construction activities are highly weather-dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.

For more information about the I-205 – Mill Plain Exit – 112th Connector project, please visit the project Web page at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i205/millplainne112/.

For weekly updates on this and all other traffic impacts in the region, please visit the WSDOT Southwest Region Weekly Travel Advisory Web page at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Regions/SouthWest/Construction.

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