WSDOT and officials celebrate being one step closer to four-laning US 12 from the Tri-Cities to Walla Walla
Washington State Department of Transportation - News South Central Region - P.O. Box 12560 - Yakima, WA 98909-2560
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 8, 2010
Contacts:
Mike Westbay, WSDOT Communications (509) 728-4712
Moe Davari, WSDOT Project Engineer, (509) 222-2402
WALLA WALLA - U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond, and members of the US Highway 12 Coalition joined state and local officials, and legislators to celebrate opening eight miles of new four-lane US 12, from Frenchtown vicinity to Walla Walla on time and under budget.
"Thanks in large part to the support of the US 12 Coalition and Sen. Murray, we have significantly improved vehicle safety and the movement of goods and services between the Tri-Cities and Walla Walla," said Paula Hammond, Washington Transportation Secretary.
Building US 12 as a four-lane divided highway from Frenchtown vicinity to Walla Walla reduces the risk of head on collisions by separating opposing traffic with a median. Adding a lane in each direction improves passing opportunities. The $56 million project also reduces entering at-angle collisions by limiting the number of intersections and private driveways.
The Washington State Patrol responded to 216 collisions between 2002 and 2008 on the existing two-lane US 12 from Frenchtown to Walla Walla, 101 drivers were injured and four lost their lives. According to WSP, drivers making poor decisions when trying to pass other vehicles caused many of the serious collisions. The new interchange at Pine Street and Myra Road, which is part of the project, will also reduce congestion, improve traffic mobility, and encourage economic vitality.
The project received over $42 million from the 2003 and 2005 gas tax packages, and received an additional $13 million in federal funds. Completing this eight-mile project means we are nearing the halfway point to completing a four-lane highway on US 12 from the Tri-Cities to Walla Walla. WSDOT has opened 18 miles of four-lane US 12 to traffic, with 21 miles remaining.
The Burbank interchange at the US 12 / SR 124 intersection is the next step toward reducing the risk of collisions on the corridor, and improving the movement of people and freight. This $25 million project is slated for 2011 construction.
For more on WSDOT's US 12 widening program, please visit:www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/US12/SR124Wallula/