A traffic improvement project at Woodland’s Interstate 5 Exit 21 may face delays due to new environmental review requirements, though the city’s public works director remains optimistic about its progress.
Woodland’s Interstate 5 Exit 21 northbound interchange, the city’s main point of entry, faces significant congestion during peak hours. The City of Woodland is utilizing a $2.6 million grant from Cowlitz County to kickstart the preconstruction phase to improve traffic flow and congestion at Exit 21. In 2023, the County Council hired Kittelson & Associates, an engineering firm, to complete a project-ready design by the end of 2026, as required by the grant.
However, the project may face delays due to a state-mandated biological assessment, a new requirement aimed at evaluating how road projects impact nearby ecosystems. The assessment focuses on mitigating pollutants, such as tire rubber dust, from entering waterways and harming wildlife.
While Woodland can submit the required data within the current timeline, the state’s review is expected to take until 2028, potentially delaying the start of construction. Woodland Public Works Director Riley Bunnell explained a state staff shortage hinders the review process.
“They’ve already come forth and stated that they do not have enough review personnel to review these applications coming in, so they don’t really have the staffing levels to keep everything moving forward promptly. That’s the main reason for the delay of the two to three years that they’re currently requesting,” Bunnell explained.
Bunnell questions whether the assessment should apply to the Exit 21 project, which focuses on reshaping existing interchanges rather than building new roadways.
“So, as far as the city standpoint is, we’re not changing anything. We’re not adding a new interchange. We’re not adding any new … road surfaces. So, therefore, our understanding is we shouldn’t necessarily have to put forth a biological assessment. We’re not adding any more pollutants than we already generate currently,” Bunnell said. “We’re really hoping that … they come back and say, you know, due to the fact that it’s already an interchange, you’re not adding anything, we’re gonna eliminate the biological assessment portion of it because it is gonna add two to three years onto the overall project once we do the initial design and figure out if it’s gonna be roundabouts or signalization.”
Kittelson & Associates have presented two design options to the City Council for the interchange: one featuring roundabouts and the other using new traffic signals. Both options aim to ease congestion by improving key intersections, including the northbound Lewis River Road/Atlantic Avenue Exit 21 intersection and the state Route 503 intersections at Pacific Avenue and Buckeye
Street/Lakeshore Drive. The final decision will depend on the approval and input of the Washington state Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
Although WSDOT and Woodland’s City Council have yet to approve a design, Bunnell believes a roundabout option is more likely. Consultants from Kittelson & Associates, who have been tasked with designing the project, believe roundabouts are preferable due to their effectiveness in improving traffic flow and safety.
Bunnell said WSDOT has historically favored roundabouts for similar off-ramp intersections to alleviate congestion. For instance, the agency recently supported a roundabout at the intersection of Northwest La Center Road and Northwest Paradise Park Road near Interstate 5 Exit 16, even though La Center had considered traffic signals. Ultimately, WSDOT opted against signals, citing concerns over potential traffic backup.
“I think that with the city being more open to having roundabouts, I think [considering] the beautification factor, the safety factor, keeping traffic moving, WSDOT is gonna be more favorable for roundabouts,” Bunnell said.
Despite potential delays, Kittelson & Associates are set to deliver a project-ready design by 2026. Should construction not begin until 2028, Woodland will have used all of its $2.6 million grant funding to prepare for the construction phase.
