The city is currently “entering” what it calls the final phases of design for the U.S. Highway 12 Rail Separation Project, and so it is releasing a website for people to learn more about the large-scale work.
The project website: https://us12highwayrailseparation.participate.online shows facts, maps, existing conditions, next steps, project costs, how to contact the team and more. There is also a Spanish version for non-English speakers, which can be accessed on the top-right of the website.
The city has partnered with the Washington State Department of Transportation to “solve vehicle congestion in East Aberdeen,” according to a city of Aberdeen news release.
As of today, the project — which has a cost of $74 million — is “fully funded,” according to Nick Bird, Aberdeen’s city engineer. According to the project’s website, the funding — with the amount, project phase to be funded, and the source of each, is as follows:
• $72,660,000 — Final design right-of-way construction, from the state of Washington — Connecting Washington (CWA) Program
• $700,000 — Preliminary/Final design — from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Rail, Freight and Ports Division
• $300,000 — Preliminary/Final design — from Grays Harbor County — 310 Distressed Area Capital Improvement Fund
• $200,000 — Non-exclusive — Port of Grays Harbor
• $200,000 — Non-exclusive — City of Aberdeen
Project in a nutshell
“By creating a separated pathway for motorists and non-motorists into the East Aberdeen commercial area,” the release states, “the US 12 Highway-Rail Separation project is focused on making this route safer and more efficient for the community, visitors and businesses by making driving easier, improving traffic and helping emergency services.”
Here are a few ways the project is supposed to help, according to the city:
• Uninterrupted access for vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians to commercial area south of U.S. Highway 12 and the railroad
• 24-7 access for emergency services
• Reduced delays on U.S. Highway 12 due to vehicles blocking the travel lanes while waiting for trains that are blocking existing at-grade driveways into the commercial area
• Improved traffic flow on U.S. Highway 12 due to diverting vehicles turning into and out of the commercial area to new grade-separated ramps
• Improved safety for left-turning vehicles into the commercial area by replacing the Chehalis Street signalized intersection with a roundabout at Newell Street — “roundabouts reduce the number and severity of vehicle conflict points at the intersection,” according to the city.
According to the project’s website, construction is estimated to begin in late 2025, but is “dependent on the duration of the environmental approvals and property acquisition negotiations.” “Construction duration is directly tied to the complexity and size of the project improvements and is therefore difficult to predict until the final design phase is completed,” the website states. “However, based on design assumptions from the preliminary design phase, construction is estimated to range from 1.5 to 2.5 years.”According to the website, construction could last until 2028 once it begins in late 2025.
Anyone who has questions should contact Nick Bird, Aberdeen’s city engineer, at 360-537-3218, or nbird@aberdeenwa.gov
Contact Matthew N. Wells at matthew.wells@thedailyworld.com.
