ASOTIN - Asotin County kicked off the design phase of a major project Monday slated to improve the Fleshman Way-Southway Bridge interchange.
Design consultants will be seeking input from residents, business owners, commuters and other stakeholders to help develop an alternative that fits the needs of the community, said Joel Ristau, Asotin County engineer. Although construction funds for the $6 million project have not been secured, the goal is to have the money in place in 2010.
"There's probably not a person in the valley who hasn't driven on that interchange and realized we have a problem," Ristau told the Asotin County commissioners during their regular Monday meeting.
The interchange on the Washington side of the popular Lewiston-Clarkston route has been identified as a major bottleneck, Ristau said, and plans are under way to improve safety and congestion by drastically reducing left turn movements. The project also provides an excellent opportunity to address pedestrian and bicycle safety issues, he said.
"We have a world-class levy bike path and not a single access point across the state highway," Ristau said. "We want to address that with this project."
The Southway Bridge, built in 1981, is maintained by Asotin and Nez Perce counties and the cities of Lewiston and Clarkston. The bridge becomes Fleshman Way on the Asotin County side of the Snake River and forms an interchange with State Highway 129. Recent traffic counts estimate 25,000 vehicles use the interchange daily, and numerous collisions have been tallied over the years at that location.
Designers will review the latest studies on the interchange and go through the alternatives to see if anything was missed, said Jeff Peters, a Kennewick consultant. After the alternatives are evaluated and one is selected, plans will be drawn up and construction could begin in 2010.
Ristau said environmental issues and right-of-way impacts may affect the time line.
Asotin County received $720,000 in federal funds for the design work. The first phase will include survey work and public involvement.
Bryant Kuechle of the Langdon Group, based in Boise and Kennewick, said public meetings on the project will be scheduled and a community advisory committee will be formed to provide a forum for discussion of issues and options.
J-U-B Engineers of Kennewick is the design consultant for the project, and the Langdon Group is handling community outreach. Residents interested in serving on the committee can contact Kuechle at (800) 252-8929.
"It's an extremely important project for the valley," Commissioner Doug Mattoon said. "This is another step in the planned phases of the project to meet our cross-valley transportation needs."
The county made some temporary improvements aimed at reducing accidents and the severity of collisions while the design work is completed and construction funding is obtained.
"Safety is my No. 1 concern," Commissioner Don Brown said. "I was so happy when we did the improvements. I think they have helped."
He and the other two Asotin County commissioners said they are pleased design efforts for the major improvements are moving forward, and they hope federal lawmakers can help secure construction funds.
"Congress is aware of the project," Ristau said. "They already came through on design funding."
"We've taken two or three federal representatives on a near-death experience at the site," Commissioner Don Brown said.
"It must have been during the rush minute before work," Mattoon joked.
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Sandaine may be contacted at kerris@lmtribune.com or (208) 743-9600, ext. 264.
