Date:  Friday, April 02, 2010

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

UNION GAP – Construction crews begin work on a project designed to solve nagging congestion at one of Yakima County’s most significant transportation chokepoints, the I-82 Valley Mall Boulevard interchange.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and the contractor, Apollo Inc. of Kennewick, will start construction on the $34.3 million project on Monday, April 5. Contractor crews 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.

This is the largest American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) project in the Yakima Valley and WSDOT estimates this project will provide 140 direct and indirect jobs.

“This project will be a great improvement for the cities of Union Gap and Yakima because we are relieving traffic congestion, improving safety, and encouraging economic growth and development,” said Don Whitehouse, WSDOT Regional Administrator.

Our contractor 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.

On Monday, April 5 through Friday, April 9 during daylight hours, drivers will experience delays associated with single eastbound and westbound lane closures on I-82 from the Nob Hill exit to a mile past the Valley Mall Boulevard exit. WSDOT will also be closing the shoulders on the on-and-off ramps and closing one lane in each direction on Valley Mall Boulevard.

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 two ways for people 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: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i82/valleymall_ic/

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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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