Major street project has right-of-way issues

WALLA WALLA – A six-year capital facilities plan presented at this week’s Walla Walla City Council work session unveiled new details on the Alder Street/Poplar Street reconstruction project from Merriam Street to Palouse Street. Scheduled to begin next year, the $7.9 million project to replace traffic signals at three intersections with roundabouts could be delayed.

“We are very hopeful this is going to be a 2022 project, but we are running into some right-of-way acquisition issues that may delay all or part thereof the project to 2023,” Walla Walla Capital Programs Engineer Mike Laughery said.

Lane reconfigurations will also include bike lanes outside the roundabout area. The project also includes the installation of a rectangular rapid flashing beach and crossing improvements at the intersection of Alder Street and Howard Street.

Laughery also broke down how the $7.9 million project would be paid for. More than $5.3 million would come from local funding and more than $2.5 million would come from grants.

Another project, the $6.9 million project to make roadway, utility, and intersection improvements on Poplar Street from Colville Street to Fifth Avenue is well underway with construction scheduled in 2022.

“A good chunk of that money is coming from grant funding. So, we were very successful on that and stretching our dollars further,” Laughery said.

For continuing updates on Walla Walla’s public works projects, visit https://www.gowallawalla.us/.

Photo from the city of Walla Walla

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Elkhorn Media Group

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