Traffic alert: Richland corridor to close near busy roundabout for rail work

A stretch of Steptoe Street in Richland will close starting Thursday into Monday as workers replace railroad crossing equipment on the busy corridor.

The rail work is part of a major construction project that began in February above the roundabout off Highway 240.

Steptoe will close May 14 and should reopen by May 18. During the closure, emergency access will be allowed, but other traffic will be detoured via Leslie Road and Center Parkway.

Access will be maintained to side streets, but through traffic will be restricted. Pedestrians and bicyclists will be subject to detours too.

The city of Richland advises that Steptoe Street will close between Gage Boulevard and the roundabout at Columbia Park Trail.

The work is led by Young Asset Management LLC, a private developer working to reconstruct the intersection at Tapteal Drive to open up commercial land in the area.

During the closure, workers will remove and replace the existing railroad tracks and signals that cross the future Steptoe/Tapteal Drive intersection.

The project is creating a proper four-way crossing, with traffic lights.

The Port of Benton-owned railroad tracks bisect the intersection and serve both BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad.

The new intersection allows access to 23 acres of undeveloped commercial property on the west side of Steptoe.

The investment is paying off so far.

Young Asset Management recently completed a land sale with Vineyard Park of Richland. Vineyard Park expects to break ground on a 122-unit assisted living apartment project there in 2027.

This story was originally published May 11, 2026 at 11:14 AM.