One of Vancouver’s busiest intersections is slated for changes that aim to relieve congestion and improve safety. Construction at the intersection of Northeast Fourth Plain Road and state highways 500 and 503 begins next week.
Crews plan to add a 400-foot right turn lane from southbound Highway 503 to westbound Fourth Plain. Workers will also install median curbing on Highway 503 between Fourth Plain and Northeast 65th Street.
Both improvements are intended to help the junction operate more smoothly. More than 71,000 vehicles travel through the intersection daily, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. To the north of the intersection, Highway 503 sees about 50 collisions per year.
The $763,000 project is expected to be finished in early 2012. The work will mean single-lane closures from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. each weeknight, according to WSDOT.
