Date:  Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Contact: Meagan McFadden, WSDOT Communications, (509) 577-1618
Paul Gonseth, WSDOT Project Engineer, (509) 577-1810

UNION GAP – State and local officials joined with legislators and business owners today to celebrate start of the $34.3 million I-82 Valley Mall Boulevard Interchange project that will relieve congestion and improve safety near one of the area’s busiest intersections.

The project will reconfigure the Valley Mall Boulevard interchange to provide better, more direct access to and from I-82 and North Rudkin Road, and improve connections to the interstate for both Union Gap and Yakima. Three new roundabouts will circulate traffic more safely and efficiently through this congested area. More than 22,000 vehicles use the I-82 Valley Mall Boulevard interchange every day making it a challenge to navigate through during peak travel times.

“It’s really great to do what we do and see what we can accomplish together. It’s all about the partnerships,” said Don Whitehouse, WSDOT Regional Administrator.

“WSDOT has kept us informed about the project the whole time and I think the long term affect of this project will be incredible, said Chuck Hinckley, owner of the Gear Jammer.

The project contractor, Apollo Inc., of Kennewick, will also reconstruct the intersection of Main Street and Valley Mall Boulevard for the City of Union Gap, providing four lanes with left and right turn lanes, a bus pull-out, sidewalks, and making updates to the storm water drainage systems, street lights, and traffic signal. WSDOT will set the timing of the updated traffic signal at Main Street and Valley Mall Boulevard to coordinate traffic flow with the new roundabouts.

The 2005 gas tax package was the major source of construction funding for the project, which included the purchase of right of way and project design costs. Due to the state revenue shortfall, construction of this improvement was delayed six years. However, last spring the Governor and Legislature, selected the project to receive ARRA funding, providing the necessary dollars to deliver the project on its original schedule.

Washington State is administering the Recovery Act investments with an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability. Gov. Gregoire created a Web site, www.recovery.wa.gov, enabling every Washingtonian to see where their tax dollars are going and hold government accountable for the results.

WSDOT offers several ways for drivers to get up-to-date information regarding the I-82 Valley Mall Boulevard project:

• Call the project hotline (509) 577-1695
• Visit the project Web site: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i82/valleymall_ic/
• View WSDOT’s travel alerts Web page to help make informed decisions about the best time to travel.

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