Walla Walla Highway 12 Expansion Delayed

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By Lena Vargas

Summary

WSDOT says two bad winters in a row gave the agency too many "unworkable days". Plus, asphalt and other materials seal better in warmer temperatures. Access for bicycles and pedestrians is included.

Story Published: Feb 9, 2010 at 6:39 PM PST

Walla Walla Highway 12 Expansion Delayed
WALLA WALLA-- The Walla Walla phase of road work on Highway-12 is behind schedule. Washington’s Department of Transportation says a bad winter in 2008 and 2009 gave the agency too many “unworkable days”

That phase includes 8 and 1/2 miles of new four -lane highway, with two lanes each way.

Other phases of the project from Pasco to Walla Walla have been done for at least a year now. You can see four lanes on your way East to Walla Walla.

But then there’s a 20 mile break in the work, leading up to the Walla Walla phase. That break represents Phase 7 and 8 of the project around the Touchet area. Aside from some design money, the $300-$350 million dollar phases are unfunded right now. Once the money is in, the plan is to put in the new Highway 12 North of the existing highway in the Touchet/Lowden area.

The engineer charged with the pre-design says expanding the two lane highway where it is would take up too much of Touchet’s area and a nearby railroad would complicate construction.

WSDOT engineer Moe Davari says the agency needs dry and warmer weather to put in some of the materials. Otherwise, it could be a waste of money.

"We like the temperature to be hotter for the asphalt to seal good-- and we don't have problems on issues with it down the road-- a year or two,” said Davari.

But even before the new Highway 12 opens in Walla Walla, a new project will begin on the Burbank side. WSDOT wants to put in a new interchange with two roundabouts where Highway 12 intersects with State Route 124. The plan is for construction to begin in May.

WSDOT will begin taking bids for that project next month. Lots of crashes there prompted the change.

WSDOT will also host an open house on March 10th to discuss its Highway 12 plans for Touchet and Lowden.

Those Highway 12 improvements include three round-abouts off Myra Road in Walla Walla, leading in and out of the new highway.

People involved in a citizens group want to make sure pedestrians and cyclists are not "cut-off" from the improvements there, or anywhere else.

Neil Chavre is a city employee and a cyclist. He says unintended barriers in older parts of the city can be unsafe for cyclists and pedestrians.

"We really look at accommodating bicycles and pedestrians as an integral part of the project. it's not separated out it's juts part of smart design, really,” said Chavre.

The citizen advocacy group also includes several city workers.

They have other projects in the works to upgrade existing sidewalks in Walla Walla for better pedestrian access.