by
Rachel Hansen | Sep 06, 2022
Construction of Chelan PUD’s new Service Center in Olds Station is well underway. The phased move-in plan calls for employees to start relocating to the Service Center in summer of 2023. That means road construction will begin soon on some of the surface streets near the Service Center.
Chelan PUD, City of Wenatchee, Chelan County and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) are working together to coordinate traffic changes planned for the Highway 2/97, Easy Street and Penny Road exits and interchanges before the new PUD Service Center opens. These changes will help improve the traffic flow in and access to Olds Station for all motorists, especially during peak commute hours.
Road construction work near the PUD’s new Service Center will begin in mid-September. The PUD contracted with Smith Excavation of Wenatchee to provide road construction and paving. PUD commissioners reviewed the plan at the Tuesday board meeting. (Audio available at 01:36:00 of the board audio recording)
“The PUD is doing considerable outreach with employers located in the affected areas to make sure they know what to expect,” Project Manager John Goodwill said.
The map and flyer are being distributed to all businesses located in the Olds Station area. Here are the main traffic mitigation highlights:
- Easy Street will become two-way from the Penny Road intersection south to a new extended Technology Center Way.
- Traffic signal updates at Easy Street and Penny Road will be made to accommodate the new lane configurations
- Technology Center Way will be extended to Easy Street
- Chester-Kimm Road northbound will be right turn only onto Penny Road during peak traffic hours: 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m.
- The on-ramp at Olds Station Road and Easy Street will be removed and a three-way stop sign will be installed at Olds Station Road and Chester-Kimm Road
The first northbound Easy Street exit off of Highway 285 will close starting sometime in mid-October. This closure will last approximately two weeks and is designed to allow for reconfiguring Easy Street south of Penny Road into a two-way road.
The PUD is coordinating with WSDOT, Chelan County and the City of Wenatchee to notify motorists in advance. An electronic signboard will be installed temporarily on the south end of the Highway 285 near Wenatchee River Bridge a week before the closure begins.
Here’s more information about the PUD’s new Service Center.
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