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Ridgefield businesses wary about 3-month closure of Pioneer Street

Road construction ‘turning into something of a challenge’ in area

By Sarah Wolf, Columbian staff reporter
Published: January 15, 2025, 6:09am

Customers flocking to Ridgefield’s new Costco have backed up traffic on Pioneer Street. But the effect on neighboring businesses hasn’t been all bad, although they are wary of what a three-month-long road closure could mean.

A portion of the roadway from Discovery Drive to 56th Place closed Monday until April 22 to expedite the installation of utilities beneath Pioneer Street.

Paul Warnock, co-owner of the Copper Bell Bookshop, 4315 S. Settler Drive, said that if Costco has had any impact on his business, it’s been a positive one.

The warehouse store has drawn different shoppers to retailers in the community, he said.

The additional traffic hasn’t really affected Warnock’s shop as much as road construction has in the once-rural, increasingly suburban area.

“That’s turning into something of a challenge,” Warnock said.

The city of Ridgefield last year launched a project to widen Pioneer Street and build a roundabout at Discovery Drive.

The city reported in December that the project is about one-third complete.

The project will reroute traffic south onto South 56th Place, South Sixth Way and South Timm Road, then onto South 11th Street and South Wells Drive before turning back north onto South Royle Road.

Ridgefield’s city manager didn’t immediately return a request for comment on the project’s impact.

According to its website, the city aims to “provide predictability for the Ridgefield community by reducing the total number of closures and minimizing flagging in the work area.”

The closure is expected to speed up the project’s completion, “allowing Pioneer Street to reopen before the summer travel season and additional businesses near the project area open.”

The much-anticipated California burger chain In-N-Out is expected to open this summer.

Phuong Tran owns the Lava Java coffee shop at 2 S. 56th Place, right across Pioneer Street from Costco.

Tran sees Costco as a draw for people into the area. She hopes that they’ll take the time to stop at her shop.

But the Pioneer Street project has been disruptive, she said.

“Everyone naturally tries to avoid road closures and construction delays in their normal traffic routines,” Tran said. “Rerouting their drive affects the amount of time they have to stop and get coffee from us on their way to work or anywhere.”

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