SR-240 widening,
I-182 to Columbia Center Interchange

Photo courtesy WSDOT
State Route 240 is being widened from the Columbia Center Interchange to the Yakima River bridge.

Project description:

The Interstate 182 to Columbia Center Interchange project will add lanes on state Route 240 between the cities of Richland and Kennewick. That section of Route 240 links I-182 with the Hanford site, the Columbia Center commercial areas and east Kennewick’s industrial areas.

Route 240 is a vital commuting route for the Tri-Cities. This roadway carries approximately 54,000 commuters every day and that figure is projected to double by 2025. Recent developments, such as the construction of the vitrification plant in Hanford, are adding up to 6,000 more daily commuters.

This project will save time for carpools, vanpools and bus commuters, as well as expand the bicycle corridor. Two lanes are being added to the existing four general purpose lanes. A new roundabout at the intersection of Steptoe Street and the Richland Y eastbound off-ramp will increase vehicular mobility.

Enhancements will also be completed to the bike and pedestrian system, which could lead to less vehicle use.

Upon completion of the project, there will be three lanes in each direction on Route 240 from Stevens Drive to Columbia Center Boulevard; a new auxiliary lane in each direction from I-182 across the new Yakima River bridges to the Richland Y; and improvements at the I-182 and Route 240 interchange and the Richland Y interchange, which will include ramp widening and the new roundabout.

The additional lanes will provide improved mobility and safer connections to I-182 and local roads, decreasing accidents and traffic backups. There is also a mitigation plan to restore and enhance wetlands and provide floodplain and animal connectivity through this section of the Yakima River Delta.

Address: MP 36.05-38.90 on SR-240, in the Tri-Cities area

Cost: $30.47 million (award amount)

Type of contract: Hard bid

Start of construction: March 25, 2005

Expected completion date: Fall 2006

Contractor: Icon Materials,
P.O. Box 88050,
Tukwila, WA 98138,
(206) 575-3200

Project engineer: Moe Davari,
Washington State Department of Transportation, Richland

Owner: Washington State Department of Transportation

Project participants:

Acme Concrete & Paving — Anderson Contracting — Central Pre-Mix Co. — Central Pre-Mix Prestress Co. — Concrete Technology — Contech Construction Products — Dawson Pile Driving — DMI Drilling Construction — Frank Gurney Inc. — Graham Construction & Management — Inland Asphalt Co. — J&R Rebar — J. Harper Contractors — John Wayne Construction — KLB Construction — MacKay & Sposito — Malcolm Drilling — McCandlish Electric — Nor-Pac Enterprises — Oregon Iron Works — Pavement Surface Control — R2M2 Rebar & Stressing — Sharp Line Industries — Specialized Pavement Marking — Transtate Asphalt Co. — West Coast Engineering — Wildlands Inc. — Wm. Winkler Co. — Wubben Brothers


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