Columbia Basin Herald Online Newspaper

Local News - Moses Lake, WA - Grant County

Public wants highways widened

Posted: Tuesday, Jan 23, 2007 - 03:18:48 pm PST
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By David Cole
Herald staff writer 

People want four lanes from Ephrata to Moses Lake

EPHRATA -- More than 60 people dropped into the Ephrata City Hall Monday, providing input on a state Department of Transportation project to construct a four-lane connection between Moses Lake and Ephrata.

Terry Mattson, project engineer for the state Department of Transportation, said public comments overwhelmingly support widening the 16-mile corridor along Highways 17 and 182 connecting the two Grant County communities.

"Most people just wanted to know when" work could begin on the project, Mattson said.

Many of the public's comments Monday focused on the safety created by the project, which is among the state's highest priorities, he said. The benefits of the project include increased highway freight capacity and reduced congestion, Mattson said.

Significant growth is occurring in Grant County, he said, so widening the route is expected to reduce congestion during peak commuting times.

Widening the highways also supports economic development, another driving force behind the project, said Riley Atkins, environmental project manager with David Evans and Associates Inc.

"There's a very strong consensus to move forward with the project," Atkins said.

David Evans and Associates is the consulting firm contracted by the state to complete an environmental study for the project.

"Rocky Ford Creek is a pristine area, we want to minimize any impacts there and make sure we're environmentally sensitive," Atkins said.

The environmental study is scheduled for completion during the summer of 2008.

Mattson said access issues must be resolved. Project officials plan to design intersections to maintain traffic flow, allow for truck turning movements and provide turn pockets.

Engineers must also focus on widening two bridges. One bridge crosses Rocky Ford Creek, the other bridge is used by traffic entering and exiting Ephrata on Highway 282.

The state expects to spend until the end of May of this year analyzing public comment, environmental impacts and access issues, Mattson said. At a second open house in May, the state plans to present its recommendations and solutions to the access and environmental issues.

He said the project would likely take more than four years to complete.

An open house is scheduled for today in Moses Lake at the Big Bend Community College Advanced Technologies Education Center from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.


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ANON wrote on Dec 18, 2008 3:13 PM:

" ALMOST A YEAR LATER AND HWY 17 STILL CONSISTS OF 2 LANES. DO THEY GET THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE NOW? AFTER JUST MOVING HERE FOR WORK I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY ARE TAKING THEIR TIME ON THIS. IT IS A HEADACHE HAVING TO PASS SLOW MOVING VEHICLES EVERY DAY! NOT TO MENTION UNSAFE. IS THIS AREA OF THE STATE JUST FORGOTTEN? HAVING NO PLASTIC RECYCLING AND ALMOST BEING FORCED INTO SHOPPING AT WALMART IS TORTURE ENOUGH. "

Sam wrote on Jan 24, 2007 1:32 PM:

" How hard can it be to span a "CREEK". Moses lake/Grant County area make such a big fuss over a "Bridge". Half the time all engineers around here do is fill half the water span area with dirt and only build a little bridge span (example look at moses lake bridge over the parker horn and also alder-stratford "bridge". look at Tricities or Wenatchee for a real "bridge". Give me a break!!!! "

Mary Talcott wrote on Jan 24, 2007 1:21 PM:

" My worry is I see people walking from the base area into town with baby storllers how would this be taking care of? and what about the houses that are built close to HWY 17, what about the noise of the big trucks? Would a noise barrier be built? There are many things to think about... "

Claudia Doyle wrote on Jan 24, 2007 8:48 AM:

" This project can't happen soon enough - there's been a lot of concern voiced by many people in the area for many years regarding safety on this particular highway. Best wishes in producing this much needed improvement. "

Louise Stehr wrote on Jan 23, 2007 9:09 PM:

" It would be nice to see Highway 17 widened to 4 lanes from Ephrata to Mesa. In my years of commuting from Moses Lake, I have seen so many accidents, near misses, and increased traffic. We would be amiss in not pushing for the state to widen the highway in both directions. "