Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008

KID offers land for new interchange

By Mary Hopkin, Herald staff writer

Kennewick Irrigation District board members agreed Tuesday to give Benton County land for a right-of-way for a new Interstate 82 interchange at West Richland.

Plans for the new interchange, which would serve West Richland and Red Mountain, still are in the planning stages.

But Benton County commissioners say they need to be able to show local support and that the project is needed.

"You don't build an interchange onto a federal highway without justification," Commissioner Leo Bowman told the Kennewick Irrigation District board during Tuesday's special meeting.

Bowman gave board members a glossy brochure prepared by the county to explain why the access is needed, including improving emergency response times to the area by up to 50 percent.

Benton County Fire District 4 has no direct access to respond to fires, medical emergencies and hazardous material spills on I-82 between Benton City and Richland and from the I-182 Interchange to the Queensgate exit in Richland.

The new interchange also would boost tourism and prompt commercial and industrial development in the area, county officials say.

"Economic vitality is the main reason many of us are pursuing this," Bowman said.

It also could relieve congestion at the Queensgate intersection and the bypass highway's Van Giesen intersection, as well as on highways 224 and 225.

Bowman said the interchange also would provide more direct access moving freight for commercial and industrial development in West Richland and Benton City.

"West Richland is the only city along the I-82 corridor that doesn't have its own exit," Bowman noted.

The interchange still is in the conceptual stages and the Federal Highway Administration would have to sign off on any plans before an interchange could be built.

Bowman said the project is estimated to cost $24 million and to even pursue the idea the county must have the land for the right-of-way for the road.

The irrigation district owns land along the corridor where the interchange is planned, roughly halfway between Benton City and the I-82 and I-182 interchanges.

The district's other Red Mountain lands likely will be worth more if the interchange is built, Bowman said.

KID president Bill Kinsel said the district would support the project as long as they still have access to the land and the district's canal.

Doug Grover, KID district manager, said the land totaled less than 15 acres.