Big Changes Coming to Burbank Stretch of Highway 12
BURBANK -- KEPR discovered a deadly stretch of road in Burbank is getting a complete makeover.
Action News learned the state plans to announce big changes along Highway 12 on Wednesday.
For years, KEPR has spotlighted this trouble spot and now we're showing you the dramatic change about to take shape.
If you live in Burbank, chances are you have a story about a close call on this stretch of road. On camera and off, people came up to us describing Highway 12 as "dangerous."
KEPR has documented deadly crashes there for years. Including the Halloween night wreck that killed two brothers a couple years ago.
In October 2010, an elderly couple was killed in a crash along Highway 12. On a hazy day, they rear-ended a semi stopped at the light on E. Humorist Rd.
A month earlier, an Eltopia man was killed after his truck hit a semi and a minivan off SR-124.
When KEPR pulled the numbers back then, we found 72 crashes have happened at Highway 12 and SR-124. Most were blamed on drivers not watching the road.
So now the WSDOT is about to make a dramatic change to the road design to improve safety.
Drivers are used to two stoplights as you come into Burbank from the Tri-Cities but they won't be there anymore. At the SR-124 intersection now sits, an exit ramp will be put in so drivers won't have to stop anymore. And Humorist will become an overpass. You'll have to use access roads to get to it.
But cutting off Humorist will cut off business to nearby gas stations. Store owner Joe Kumar had hoped that Humorist could be an exit ramp, but that's not in the plans. He tells Action News, he's expecting business to go down 70 percent, but knows it's all in the name of safety.
Major changes finally happening after a number of deadly wrecks on Highway 12. WSDOT is expected to kick off construction on Wednesday.
Action News learned the state plans to announce big changes along Highway 12 on Wednesday.
For years, KEPR has spotlighted this trouble spot and now we're showing you the dramatic change about to take shape.
If you live in Burbank, chances are you have a story about a close call on this stretch of road. On camera and off, people came up to us describing Highway 12 as "dangerous."
KEPR has documented deadly crashes there for years. Including the Halloween night wreck that killed two brothers a couple years ago.
In October 2010, an elderly couple was killed in a crash along Highway 12. On a hazy day, they rear-ended a semi stopped at the light on E. Humorist Rd.
A month earlier, an Eltopia man was killed after his truck hit a semi and a minivan off SR-124.
When KEPR pulled the numbers back then, we found 72 crashes have happened at Highway 12 and SR-124. Most were blamed on drivers not watching the road.
So now the WSDOT is about to make a dramatic change to the road design to improve safety.
Drivers are used to two stoplights as you come into Burbank from the Tri-Cities but they won't be there anymore. At the SR-124 intersection now sits, an exit ramp will be put in so drivers won't have to stop anymore. And Humorist will become an overpass. You'll have to use access roads to get to it.
But cutting off Humorist will cut off business to nearby gas stations. Store owner Joe Kumar had hoped that Humorist could be an exit ramp, but that's not in the plans. He tells Action News, he's expecting business to go down 70 percent, but knows it's all in the name of safety.
Major changes finally happening after a number of deadly wrecks on Highway 12. WSDOT is expected to kick off construction on Wednesday.
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