Wenatchee, WA
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The Confluence Parkway Project will add regional roadway capacity in the heart of North Wenatchee to provide congestion relief, improved safety and predictability, enhanced connections to local roads and businesses, and an additional evacuation route through the City.
Last updated: 7/17/2024
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WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW? June 2024 Confluence Parkway Phase 1 Phase 1 of the project includes building improvements to North Miller Street and Hawley Street and extending McKittrick Street to provide new east/west access. Phase 1 is being developed and built through the City’s INFRA Grant and Move Ahead Washington funds. The project will build a new bridge over the BNSF railway at North Miller Street and a new bridge under the BNSF railway for McKittrick street. A roundabout will be built for the intersection of these streets. Phase 1 provides notable enhancements to the area by eliminating two at grade railroad crossings and provides dedicated pedestrian and bicycle facilities. The design development for Phase 1 of the Project is advancing. You will be notified if your property is needed for the project. Please see the Confluence Parkway Project Right-of-Way page for more information. Construction on Phase 1 components is anticipated to begin in Spring 2025. The Confluence Parkway Project is a major investment for the City. The recent notable escalation in construction costs, property prices, and the effects from inflation over the past several years is increasing costs across the project. Due to these increases, the project’s available funding may not stretch as far as initially planned. As a result, we will plan to phase elements of the project over a period of years as funding becomes available. The City plans to prioritize securing right-of-way for the Project north to US-2 with currently available funding, which will allow for the remainder of the Project to be shovel-ready when additional funding is available. We’re proactively explore opportunities for additional project funding opportunities. What’s next? Over the next months, we will be working with property owners and other impacted parties to acquire the necessary right-of-way for Phase 1. We’ll be providing offer letters and start negotiations with impacted property owners later this summer. Please see the Confluence Parkway Project Right-of-Way page for more information. Open House on 7/15/2024 An open house was held the evening of July 15 and was attended by over 120 people. The City provided an update on the preliminary design and current progress of Confluence Parkway. Project staff were on hand to answer questions and a brief presentation was given. If you were unable to make it, the materials presented are available here. Final Action Hearing held on 7/25/2024 To complete the Confluence Parkway Phase 1 improvements, the City needs to acquire additional ROW along the corridor. While the City’s first choice is to negotiate a fair market value and reach an agreed resolution for the needed property, if it appears that a timely agreement cannot be reached the City plans to proceed with condemnation, per 8.12 RCW, to acquire the property. A public hearing was held during a meeting of the Wenatchee City Council to consider the adoption of an ordinance authorizing condemnation of portions of Real Property needed to construct Confluence Parkway Phase 1. This hearing was held on July 25, 2024. |
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The Confluence Parkway Project will create a new north/south route connection for the City. The project will:
- Build important new capacity and connections to provide congestion relief for the increasing number of vehicles, pedestrians, transit and bicycles that use our City’s roads.
- Improve safety, access, and predictability, including the elimination of two existing at-grade railroad crossings and replacing them with bridges.
- Create an important new evacuation route through the City and over the Wenatchee River.
- Support economic development by facilitating access to the North Wenatchee business district.
The Project is planned to be a new two-lane arterial street that begins in the south at the existing intersection of North Miller Street and SR 285/North Wenatchee Avenue and extends north over the Wenatchee River on a new bridge connecting to U.S. 2/ Euclid Avenue interchange. It is expected to include:
- A 2.5 mile roadway connecting SR 285/North Wenatchee Avenue to the US 2/Euclid Avenue interchange, including new bike lane access and pedestrian connections to the Apple Capital Loop Trail improving safety for all users.
- Two new bridges crossing the BNSF railroad for N. Miller Street and McKittrick Street eliminating delays and possible safety incidences caused by the daily trains.
- A new bridge over the Wenatchee River to complete the connection and provide direct access north of the river and to US 2.
- The extension of McKittrick Street between SR 285 and the new Parkway to provide direct access to the Columbia River waterfront.
- Improvements and new connections to the Apple Capital Loop Trail including new access across the Wenatchee River, allowing for the old bridge to be removed.
WHY PROGRESSIVE DESIGN BUILD?
We will advance the Confluence Parkway using a Progressive Design-Build (PDB) approach.
PDB differs from more traditional design and build methods because it allows for increased collaboration between the City and the PDB contractor throughout the design and construction process, and it will provide the City advantages in addressing key challenges associated with this complex project. The PDB delivery method will help to keep rising construction costs in check by building efficiencies, accelerating schedules, and recognizing available project funding limits. The choice to embrace the PDB model reflects the City’s commitment to be utilize creative approaches and solutions for this work.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Since the late 1990’s, the North Wenatchee Avenue corridor, From the US 2/Euclid Avenue interchange in the north to 5th Street in the south has seen rising congestion levels and increasing demands to serve our regional hospital, high school, college, downtown business district, and employment centers. It is currently the region’s primary traffic bottleneck for residents, businesses, and visitors throughout Chelan and Douglas counties.
In 2011, the Chelan-Douglas Transportation Council along with its partners developed the North Wenatchee Transportation Master Plan. This plan considered concepts to alleviate traffic concerns specifically in the North Wenatchee corridor. The effectiveness of each concept was analyzed for its ability to address safety, highway mobility, accessibility, and economic impacts and benefits. Results of this analysis along with public input identified the Confluence Parkway as the concept providing the most transportation benefit.
Project Funding
The project is funded with a variety of local, state and federal sources such as the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) program and the Move Ahead Washington transportation package. For more background on the City's INFRA application and related documents, visit the Apple Capital Loop INFRA project page.
How can I stay involved?
The City of Wenatchee, in cooperation with Federal Highway Administration and Washington State Department of Transportation, welcomes your feedback and comments on the project.
Contact us:
For questions email us at: cpproject@wenatcheewa.gov