Ephrata plans for roundabout detour
NANCE BESTON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 months, 2 weeks AGO
The city of Ephrata is working on finalizing a detour plan for the roundabout that will help with traffic flow outside of the new Grant County Jail. This is the preliminary plan with potential for change as it is finalized.
COURTESY PHOTO/CITY OF EPHRATA
EPHRATA — The city of Ephrata is working alongside the Port of Ephrata and the Washington State Department of Transportation to finalize a plan for a detour while building a roundabout on State Route 282.
“They are working on their desired pathway for detour,” City Administrator Ray Towry said during the July 18 regular council meeting. “Essentially, what they are finding is that it is much more cost-effective for them to completely close that intersection down and reroute all of the traffic from SR 282 through Ephrata. It does go by a couple of schools and through some neighborhoods. The staff is still digesting this.”
The detour is anticipated to be in place from July 21 through Sept. 12. The roundabout is being built to help traffic go to and from the new Grant County Jail.
Ephrata Port Executive Director David W. Lanman was also at the meeting, saying the Port of Ephrata supports this decision.
Currently, the plan is to close a section of SR 282. Then traffic would be rerouted up Airport Street Southeast to Fifth Avenue Southeast, then down Nat Washington Way.
Local traffic will still be able to access Dodson Road as of now.
“There’s a large potential for some real issues as far as backup,” Ephrata Mayor Bruce Reim said. “Then you have the school bus issue, which would compound it immensely.”
Towry said the last time the state did a traffic count at that intersection on SR 282 was in 2007, and the intersection saw around 8,000 vehicles a day.
“I am going to assume that has grown by roughly 20%,” Towry said. “So, it’s probably an increase of as much of 12,000 vehicles going through our community.”
Towry said he specifically had concerns about the intersection of Nat Washington Way and A Street Southeast, which is near Ephrata Middle School, especially because the detour would take place during the first three to four weeks of school.
“Between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. or between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m., that could be particularly challenging for our community,” Towry said.
Towry said there is ongoing discussion with the county about mitigating any issues that may occur with this plan. This is not the final plan but the current proposed plan, Towry said.
“We are just one player in this with the Department of Transportation, with Grant County and with the Port,” Reim said. “As far as the route, my understanding is that the plan is to close the road entirely to be able to get more work done in a short period of time. We are currently working with all the players on how that detour would look and how that will affect our community.”
ARTICLES BY NANCE BESTON
1 arrested after Highway 17 stop; detectives recover fentanyl, firearms
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Street Crimes Unit conducted a traffic stop on Highway 17 near Randolph Road and executed a search warrant Friday morning as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation.
4th-year drought declaration in WA, subtle effects in the Columbia Basin
EPHRATA — Washington’s fourth straight year of drought is expected to hit some regions hard, but in Grant and Adams counties, the impacts will look different – quieter, less visible and centered underground. Statewide, the Department of Ecology issued an emergency drought declaration after a warm winter left Washington with about half its usual snowpack, raising concerns about low summer streamflows, stressed fish populations and heightened wildfire risk. Seven of the past 10 years have included drought somewhere in the state. “If you look at our mountains, the challenge we are facing is clear,” Gov. Bob Ferguson said during a press conference Wednesday. “We’re taking emergency action to protect fish, farmers and communities across Washington.”
Sleep Diagnostic Center to close after doctor’s sentencing
MOSES LAKE — The Central Washington Sleep Diagnostic Center announced it will be closing its doors effective April 30. This includes locations in Moses Lake, Spokane Valley, Brewster and Wenatchee. The announcement follows the March 25 guilty plea from Dr. Eric Edward Haeger, 57, in United States District Court to adulterating and misbranding medical devices with the intent to defraud or mislead, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “The adulterations by Dr Haeger show a dangerous disregard for the safety of his patients,” Washington Attorney General Nick Brown said in a statement. “This is a win for patient safety, for protecting public dollars from fraud, and for ensuring citizens of Washington get necessary healthcare. This case exemplifies the great work our team is doing in collaboration with our federal partners to fight fraud and protect Washingtonians.”