The City of Washougal has selected a landscaping design for the 15th Street/Washougal River Road roundabout that will be constructed with WSDOT’s SR 14 Access Improvements Project. As part of the design process, the SR 14 Landscaping/Design Committee was formed and was comprised of Washougal community members, business owners, city staff and councilmember Alex Yost. Over the course of 2018, the committee reviewed several options that were prepared by the city’s landscape architect PBS, Inc.
The chosen design features unique landscaping utilizing native, easy to maintain plants as well as a blend of artistic features inspired by Washougal's indigenous roots, natural beauty, and historic industries. It includes mounds of blue-hued grasses to create the illusion of rippling water, punctuated by fish and bird sculptures that subtly welcome visitors to Washougal.
“The best part of the process was the realization that there is no wrong turn in this roundabout, surrounded by scenic borders of the Columbia River and Mt. Hood,” said council and committee member Alex Yost. “The design itself is charming and will feel like it has always been part of our community.”
The estimated cost of landscaping for the 15th Street/Washougal River Road roundabout is $100,000 and will be paid by WSDOT to the contractor, Thompson Bros. Excavating, Inc. The City will hire an artist to create the art elements in the design which will be put in place by WSDOT’s contractor. The landscaping and art are expected to be installed by WSDOT’s contractor in October 2019 once construction of the roundabout is complete. The 32nd Street roundabout will not feature any landscaping to accommodate truck traffic coming out of the port.
On April 9, 2019, WSDOT awarded the construction contract for the SR 14 Access Improvements Project to Thompson Bros. Excavating, Inc. The project, which began in 2016, includes two roundabouts at 15th/Washougal River Road and 32nd Street. Construction on the roundabouts is slated to start after Memorial Day and is expected to be complete by late fall 2019. When complete, the project will improve safety, connectivity and economic development opportunities along the SR 14 corridor in Washougal. $7.5 million was allocated from the State of Washington Connecting Washington Transportation Package (state gas taxes) to fund this project.
To receive project and construction updates about the SR 14 Access Improvements Project from WSDOT, sign up here. Project information can be found here.
CONTACT:
Rob Charles, City Engineer
(360) 835-8501 ext. 230
Rob.Charles@cityofwashougal.us
Michele Loftus, Communications Specialist
(360) 835-8501 ext. 510
Michele.Loftus@cityofwashougal.us