Address
Allen Street, Kelso

Start of construction
July 1999

Expected completion date
Fall 2001

Owner
Kelso Public Works

A 600-foot approach embankment using Hilfiker welded wire reinforced earth will be constructed. The use of block, sandblast and brick form liners on the columns and walls of the structure, and concrete traffic barrier with panel openings will retain the architectural history and character of Kelso.

Upon completion, the City of Kelso expects the following benefits from the new bridge:

• the railroad and Allen Street grade intersection will be eliminated (currently, 26,000 vehicles per day share an intersection with the railroad, which carries 50-60 trains per day);
• the commercial vehicle traffic capacity (freight mobility) will be doubled between Kelso and Longview in this area;
• the traffic circulation in east Kelso will be improved, with the majority of the congestion-related traffic being elevated to the new bridge above the surface streets;
• the annual societal benefits are projected to exceed $1 million in the combined savings of time and fuel.

The Federal Highway Administration, the Transportation Improvement Board, the Washington State Department of Transportation, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad and the city of Kelso are the major funding sources the project.