Columbia Park Trail East Improvements Going On Now in Richland

When all is said and done, the $5 million worth of improvements to Columbia Park Trail east in Richland will, pardon the pun, begin to pave the way for a better overall developmental vision in that part of the city down by the beautiful Columbia River.

According to the City of Richland's website, the Columbia Park Trail East Improvements project consists of the full reconstruction of Columbia Park Trail east for approximately 6,000 linear feet from Fowler Street on the west to the Hanford Reach Interpretive Center entrance road on the east.

The work consists of removing the existing roadway (old concrete highway), HMA surfacing (hot mix asphalt - a combination of approximately 95% stone, sand, or gravel bound together by asphalt cement, a product of crude oil), new curbs and gutters, sidewalks, multi-use pathways, ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) ramps, storm drainage collection system, street light system, 3 controlled pedestrian crossings, undergrounding of existing overhead power systems, pavement markings, miscellaneous beautification and overall site restoration. Pretty much sounds like the proverbial "whole schmere" to me.

The original plan was to have the work finished by early June, or 150 days, but now the end of 2021 is the targeted completion date.

The $5 million Columbia Park Trail East Improvements project has been awarded to Apollo, Inc. of Kennewick. These improvements have been designed to compliment the Island View area's waterfront access by introducing dedicated bicycle and pedestrian features.

The project will provide one traffic lane in each direction, and a center left-turn lane where needed. The Wye Park parking lot and street frontage will be reconstructed and improved.

A partnership with the Port of Kennewick, along with a Benton-Franklin Council of Governments grant, a Washington State Department of Ecology stormwater grant, and City real estate excise tax funds will provide financing for this project.

Source.