Title
US 101 / West Olympia Access Project Update
Recommended Action
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive a briefing on the status of the US 101/West Olympia Access Project.
Report
Issue:
Receive a briefing on the status of the US 101/West Olympia Access Project.
Staff Contact:
Mark Russell, P.E., Director of Transportation, Public Works, 360.753.8762
Presenter(s):
Mark Russell, P.E., Director of Transportation, Public Works, 360.753.8762
Randy Wesselman, Transportation Engineering and Planning Manager, Public Works, 360.753.8477
Perry Shea, SCJ Alliance
Background and Analysis:
In 2010, the City and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) completed an evaluation of transportation needs on Olympia's Westside. One of the outcomes of this West Olympia Access Study was a decision to build new freeway ramps to US 101 because the Black Lake Boulevard and Cooper Point Road intersection is projected to fail within the next six years due to increased regional traffic and from development. This means a person driving a car could wait through three or more cycles of a traffic signal.
Two freeway access ramps are being proposed to reduce the growth of traffic at Black Lake Boulevard and Cooper Point Roads. The ramps will improve access to medical facilities and businesses, and provide route options in this area.
The new ramps are proposed at:
* Kaiser Road. Construction of an eastbound on-ramp and westbound off-ramp. Construction is anticipated 10-15 years from now.
* Yauger Way. Construction of a westbound off-ramp extension at Black Lake Boulevard to connect to Yauger Way will be built following the Kaiser Road ramps, beyond the 20-year planning horizon.
City Council had extensive involvement in developing this Westside transportation solution and has made this project a priority, including legislative funding requests. Before the ramps can be designed and built, an Interchange Justification Report (IJR) and e...
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