Northeast 179th Street and Northeast 50th Avenue Intersection improvements

Project update - Nov. 2024

Clark County Public Works is proceeding with reconstructing the intersection of Northeast 179th Street and Northeast 50th Avenue. The addition of a left-turn lane on the East and West legs of the intersection will serve as an interim project until such time as a roundabout is warranted at this intersection to handle increased traffic associated with residential and commercial development. With anticipated growth in the area over the next 20 years, these upgrades aim to accommodate future traffic volumes while ensuring safety and mobility. Construction is nearing completion with minimal punch list items for the contractor to complete within the next few weeks.  Construction activities are anticipated to be completed by the first part of December, weather-dependent. Occasional traffic impacts, including delays and lane closures, are expected to be minimal. 


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Clark County Public Works is redesigning the intersection of Northeast 179th Street and Northeast 50th Avenue. The existing stop-sign-controlled intersection will include the addition of left-turn lanes to be eastbound and westbound lanes at the intersection. Future improvements will include replacing the stop-sign-controlled intersection with a multi-lane roundabout. This project is necessary to accommodate increased traffic volumes caused by rapid development in the area.

 

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About the project

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Click here to view the map of the project area.

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This project contributes to improvement of the local transportation system in support of the Clark County Comprehensive Growth Management Plan. Development is increasing traffic volumes along the Northeast 179th Street corridor. This project is one of several that, when complete, will improve travel times, upgrade stormwater management, improve safety and bring the corridor up to current road standards.

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It was determined that adding a left-turn lane in the east and west roads at the existing stop-sign-controlled intersection would accommodate increased traffic volumes for several years before a roundabout is constructed. Traffic studies show that this interim project will maintain an acceptable level of service until 2035.

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Design of the new intersection is nearly complete.

Public Works incorporates resident input when feasible. County projects are designed by professional engineers. We balance community input with other considerations to create the best possible final design. Considerations include legal requirements, environmental impacts, budget and safety. Input among residents, user groups and stakeholders often differs. While we do our best to incorporate resident input, we are not able incorporate all input or requests. If you have questions or concerns about the final project design, we invite you to learn more on our website or contact the project manager.

Project timeline

Design: winter 2021 – spring 2024

Construction: summer 2024 – winter 2024

Click here to see the current project schedule

State agencies that issue required permits are experiencing backlogs. Acquiring permits is taking longer than expected. This could impact the project timeline. We will provide updates to the project schedule as more information becomes available.

Budget

The total budget identified for the project is $1.8 million and will be funded by the County Road Fund.

Public input

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Virtual Public Open House, Thursday, Jan. 27

Thank you to everyone who attended the open house!

To watch a recording of the virtual open house, click on the link below.
[video: https://youtu.be/T493eLsIjsM]

1.27.2022 Open House Presentation Slides/Visuals: Northeast 50th Avenue Intersection Improvement

Project history

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Clark County Public Works is proceeding with reconstructing the intersection of Northeast 179th Street and Northeast 50th Avenue. The addition of a left-turn lane on the East and West legs of the intersection will serve as an interim project until such time as a roundabout is warranted at this intersection to handle increased traffic associated with residential and commercial development. With anticipated growth in the area over the next 20 years, these upgrades aim to accommodate future traffic volumes while ensuring safety and mobility. Construction is expected to begin at the end of August and is anticipated to be complete by the middle of November, weather-dependent. Occasional traffic impacts, including delays and lane closures, are expected. 

Mailers

August 2024 - Postcard (PDF)
June 2023 - Postcard (PDF)                                                                                                                 
January 2022- Heads Up (PDF)
August 2021 - Update Heads Up (PDF)
August 2021 Heads Up (PDF)

More information

Scott Sawyer, P.E. project manager                                         
Northeast 179th Street projects                                          
Clark County Public Works                                                    
564-397-4364                                                                          
179thstreetproject@clark.wa.gov