Traffic circle proposed at Colfax

Joe Ausband, project manager, points out traffic flow plans at a DOT open house June 1.

Planning for the intersection of Highways 26 and 195 at the north end of Colfax has included consideration of a traffic circle which would be located in the area of the Sunset Mart gas station, store and former motel space on the west side of the store.

Joe Ausband, manager of the project for the Eastern District of the Washington Department of Transportation, described the traffic circle concept during his report on the project.

Ausband started out his segment of the DOT open house in the Public Service building last Thursday afternoon by reporting work on the bridge repair project at the intersection has been stopped because the lone bid for the job May 25 was $800,000 over the estimated cost.

He said they are now in the process of determining whether to stay with the repair plan or take a new approach to the project.

Ausband said long-range plans for revising the intersection have also been tabled because funding for the project hinged on a grant application for federal funds for the TIGER (Transportation Improvement Grant for Economic Recovery) program. Grants are awarded through a rating system, and the rebuild of the intersection did well but failed to rate high enough for funding.

Colfax City Council members last year were advised of a possible realignment of the intersection which at that time was described as a T configuration where Highway 26 would meet Highway 195, and one new bridge would provide the link south to Colfax.

Ausband explained that highway accident statistics show a lot of accidents happen when motorists are required to stop, and traffic circles are shown to be safer because they remove that hazard.

Attendees at the session questioned how a traffic circle pattern would stand up to the traffic loads on football weekends and other high volume days related to the WSU college schedule.

They also noted the high volume of trucks and over-width farm equipment which would have to negotiate the circle.

Larry Rasmussen, district manager for the passing lanes project on Highway 195 between Colfax and Spangle, reported bids on that project would be opened June 7. He noted the bid call related to phase one of the project, and a second round of bids next year will be issued for phase two on the north end.

DOT has been purchasing right-of-way property for the passing lanes north and south of Steptoe which will be included in the phase one bid. The plan for passing lanes on the southbound side of Highway 195 begins south of Steptoe on the long curve going up the grade before the Hume Road intersection. The northbound passing lane begins north of the grade descent into Steptoe.

The next closest set of passing lanes is in Spokane County, with a northbound lane on the grade north of the Babb Road overpass and corresponding southbound lane along the straight stretch south of Plaza.