Scott Sawyer
The city of Battle Ground is seeking public input on upcoming Phases 2 and 3 of the SR-502/503 Congestion Relief Project at a March 26 open house.
The goal of the project is to increase mobility and relieve congestion where the two state highways intersect in Battle Ground. Several project design options will be presented for public comment and input. The open house is scheduled 5-7 p.m. Monday, March 26 at Battle Ground City Hall located at 109 SW 1st Street. Project engineers will be on hand to present project goals, challenges, potential solutions, and gather your ideas and input.
Over the years, we have seen a substantial increase in the volume of traffic at the SR-502/503 intersection. Growth, both in the city and throughout the north Clark County region, has a significant effect on the number of vehicles traveling to and through Battle Ground on the two state highways.
With the SR-502/503 Congestion Relief Project, the city and Washington State Department of Transportation are focusing on near-term projects with the goal of reducing the congestion we are experiencing today. The three-phase project is funded by the state’s Connecting Washington program over a six-year period. Phase 1 was completed earlier this year.
Ultimately, the long-term solution for this intersection is a grade separated interchange — an overpass — and the widening of state Route 503 between Main Street and Onsdorff Boulevard to four lanes. This solution, however, requires substantial funding not currently available. We do not anticipate funding in the near future considering the many other transportation infrastructure projects within the county and state that compete for the same dollars.
We look forward to your participation at the March 26 open house. As we work to improve the transportation infrastructure in Battle Ground, public input is essential. Your consideration of this project’s goals and challenges, along with your ideas and feedback is critical to the project’s success.
Further information, draft design options, and a public input form for those unable to attend the open house are available at cityofbg.org/congestion-relief. We invite public comment on the posted design options through Friday, March 30.
