Date:  Monday, October 12, 2009

Contact: Allen Hendy, WSDOT Project Engineer, (360) 905-1522 (Vancouver)
Annie Linstrom, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2079 (Vancouver)

New I-205 ramp will open for today’s afternoon commute

VANCOUVER – Drivers destined for NE 112th Avenue from I-205 northbound will enjoy a safer and faster commute as the Washington State Department of Transportation opens the I-205 – Mill Plain Exit – 112th Connector project after a ribbon cutting this afternoon.

Funded through the 2003 nickel gas tax, 2005 partnership funds and federal funds provided by the City of Vancouver, the $26 million project built a “connector” ramp that allows drivers exiting northbound I-205 access to NE 112th Avenue without having to navigate through traffic at Mill Plain Boulevard. It also built an on-ramp bridge at Mill Plain to take traffic headed for northbound I-205 up and over the connector. The on-ramp was opened to traffic in late September.

“Drivers and the local community have been watching and waiting for this project for nearly 18 months,” said Southwest Regional Administrator Don Wagner. “Thanks to their patience and the hard work of the project team and Selby Bridge Co., we’re proud to deliver congestion relief and increased safety to drivers in east Vancouver – on time and under budget.”

The 112th Connector project is also an investment in a future project planned for the I-205 corridor, scheduled for construction in 2014. The I-205 – Mill Plain Interchange to NE 18th Street project builds a new interchange and ramps to connect I-205 and NE 18th Street. The 1,100 foot-long on-ramp bridge was built as part of the 112th Connector project to allow WSDOT to construct a future off-ramp from northbound I-205 to NE 18th Street.

The ribbon cutting event, hosted by WSDOT, was held at 1:30 p.m. today and featured remarks by Congressman Brian Baird, Senator Craig Pridemore and Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard.

Starting today, the new 112th connector ramp will be open during the peak commute hours of 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. each day. It will otherwise be closed to allow crews to safely complete construction activities. The ramp is scheduled to be open 24 hours a day by late November.

For more information on the I-205 – Mill Plain Exit – 112th Connector project, please visit the project Web page at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/I205/MillPlainNE112. 

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