The $7.5 million project aims to improve traffic flow, enhance safety and restore full access to Highway 14 from 32nd Street, where there is no traffic signal. WSDOT has prohibited left turns onto Highway 14 at that intersection because of safety concerns.
“A lot of freight coming from south of the highway is not able to turn west toward Vancouver,” Greenwell said.
Drivers should expect intermittent single-lane closures on Highway 14 during construction, which is scheduled to be completed before the end of the year. There will be no lane closures immediately before, during or after the July 27 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship at the Washougal MX Park.
Thompson Bros. Excavating will be allowed to fully close Washougal River Road/15th Street and 32nd Street, including two weekend closures scheduled for June. To reduce disruption, no two intersections will be closed at the same time.
In addition, the contractor will close street access to Steamboat Landing Park, on 15th Street south of Highway 14, for up to 30 days during roundabout construction.
WSDOT faced significant opposition when it first started talking about building roundabouts on a state highway more than three years ago. Community concerns have waned somewhat as more residents become familiar with that type of traffic control.
Traffic engineers like roundabouts primarily because they improve safety and mobility.
Roundabouts virtually eliminate head-on and T-bone crashes, which are the most likely to result in fatalities or severe injuries. Statistics indicate that roundabouts can reduce fatal crashes by 90 percent and injury crashes by 75 percent at intersections where there were previously traffic signals or stop signs.
Roundabouts also can ease congestion since they allow for continuous traffic flow. If there is no traffic in a roundabout, a driver can proceed without stopping.
“People perceive having to slow down on a highway as causing them to lose time, ” Greenwell said. “But over time, they actually will improve their travel times.”
