Highway work is topic of meetings
Published 10:36 am Thursday, December 11, 2008
By Kevin Hanson-The Courier-Herald
The state's Department of Transportation is planning two meetings in Enumclaw, each addressing plans for heavily-traveled roadways.
Plans for a large, two-lane roundabout on a busy stretch of highway north of Enumclaw will be explained today, Wednesday, by staff from the state's Department of Transportation.
At issue are DOT plans for the busy intersection of state Route 169 and Southeast 416th Street.
Having declared the intersection hazardous, due to the number of accidents in recent years, the DOT set about finding way to improve motorist safety. The staff recommendation ultimately was a roundabout, which eliminates squared-off intersections and the need for stop signs or traffic lights.
The DOT touts roundabouts as a way to keep traffic moving safely, negating the possibility of serious T-bone accidents and cutting down on rear-end collisions.
Detractors of the state plan - which carries a price tag of up to $6 million - wonder about the effect on large vehicles like semi-trucks or rigs pulling horse trailers.
Beyond that, many have wondered why the DOT proceeded with engineering plans before getting public feedback on the idea.
Today's session is planned for 2 to 7 p.m. at the Enumclaw Expo Center. There will be information available in the fieldhouse as well as a chance to comment on the state plan. In the north parking lot, DOT will be setting up a mock roundabout for motorists to navigate.
DOT's schedule for the roundabout project would have the department taking bids from private contractors in August 2008 and calling for the work to be done during the 2010 construction season.
State Route 410
Recent flooding on the White River has shown the risk of possible damage to the adjacent highway, should the river change course. If something dramatic were to happen, access from the west side of Mount Rainier to Sunrise visitor area in Mount Rainier National Park could be lost.
Access also would be threatened to Crystal Mountain Ski Resort and its neighbors. If the roadway were permanently damaged, travelers would have to use Interstate 90 or other options if heading to Yakima, rather than the shorter 410 route.
The DOT is looking at the potential for problems and assessing options to save the scenic route. The 2005 gas tax made $17 million available for improvements between Greenwater and the national park boundary.
DOT anticipates beginning construction by the summer of 2009.
Anyone interested in learning about upcoming work is invited to a session slated for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Enumclaw library.
Kevin Hanson can be reached at khanson@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald.
