Confluence Parkway (Wenatchee, WA)

[Bruce]

Wenatchee has been inching towards construction of the Confluence Parkway, a new downtown highway that would bypass a section of SR 285 and directly connect with US 97A. It includes a new bridge over the Wenatchee River, connections to the Apple Capital Loop Trail, and an interesting intersection:

[The Ghostbuster]

Would any homes or businesses be torn down to construct this Confluence Parkway?

[Bruce]

Would any homes or businesses be torn down to construct this Confluence Parkway?

According to the environmental assessment (p. 16), the affected properties are: 3 residential structures (which are actually businesses), a warehouse, 3 retail businesses, a Taco Bell drive-thru, and a historic Denny's.

[Amaury]

So, will this be a local highway owned by Wenatchee and East Wenatchee or owned by Chelan County and Douglas County? (In similar vein to Kittitas Highway in Kittitas County.) Or will it end up being a numbered highway belonging to WSDOT?

[Bruce]

So, will this be a local highway owned by Wenatchee and East Wenatchee or owned by Chelan County and Douglas County? (In similar vein to Kittitas Highway in Kittitas County.) Or will it end up being a numbered highway belonging to WSDOT?

Considering that it doesn't cross the Columbia River, it'll be Wenatchee and/or Chelan County. WSDOT has no reason to request the legislature to make it a state highway, as they wouldn't for other urban arterials.

[Amaury]

I figured WSDOT owning it would be the most unlikely option of what I asked.

[triplemultiplex]

a historic Denny's.

Say whaaaaat?

[pderocco]

a historic Denny's.

Say whaaaaat?

It must have had good food.

[keithvh]

I've often thought about Wenatchee and how it might evacuate in a wildfire emergency.  Paradise, CA and Lahania, HI just last week show the risks of having only 1 or 2 ways out.

Wenatchee currently only has 2 ways out.  This project would add a 3rd.  This seems like a good idea for that reason alone.

[Bruce]

I've often thought about Wenatchee and how it might evacuate in a wildfire emergency.  Paradise, CA and Lahania, HI just last week show the risks of having only 1 or 2 ways out.

Wenatchee currently only has 2 ways out.  This project would add a 3rd.  This seems like a good idea for that reason alone.

Wenatchee did get hit with a wildfire in 2015 that burned homes in the western sprawl. If a larger fire in the same area were to spread east, both northern exits would be cut off anyway.