Richland’s Duportail Bridge opens after 2 years and $38 million

After two years of construction, the Duportail Bridge connecting the Queensgate area to the Highway 240 bypass in Richland has opened.

The Washington State Department of Transportation was continuing to test and monitor the recently install traffic signals but the fine-tuning was expected to be done by the afternoon, according to a news release from the city of Richland.

The opening of the $38 million, four-lane bridge over the Yakima River had been delayed from its target opening in the fall because parts and equipment for the lights were difficult to find because of the pandemic.

“After years of planning, design, and construction, I’m thrilled to announce the opening of the Duportail Bridge. This important piece of infrastructure, along with other corridor improvements, will benefit our entire region for years to come,” City Manager Cindy Reents said in a news release.

“I’d like to recognize and thank our local legislators, community partners, staff and citizens for their efforts. A project of this magnitude requires extensive collaboration, ingenuity, and patience,” she said.

A virtual ribbon cutting and time-lapse of construction can be viewed at City of Richland Government Facebook page.

Apollo Construction of Kennewick started work on the bridge in 2018 after the city was awarded $20 million from a state transportation package.

Richland also received a $9 million state grant, $2 million from the federal government and put in about $1.6 million to pay for the project.

The project was not without controversy, though.

The Richland City Council passed a $20 car tab fee in 2017 to generate $850,000 annually starting in 2018 through the newly formed transportation benefit district.

City leaders had said at the time they needed the money to help finance construction of the bridge and to step up preventative maintenance of deteriorating streets.

However, others have long been looking forward to traffic the bridge will bring to the Queensgate area.

“Am I happy the bridge is open? Yes,” said Ryan Weld, the owner of the Richland Tire Factory on Duportail Street at the end of the bridge.

Weld, who also owns two Pasco Tire Factory stores, said that he built the business at 2761 Duportail St. in 2013 in anticipation of the bridge opening.

“In the long run the infrastructure will benefit all of Tri-Cities,” he told the Herald. “There is so much gridlock in that area something had to be done.”

The lifelong Mid-Columbia resident points to the growth in the Queensgate area and the traffic the bridge will bring that drew him to the location.

“There will be future development here and a lot of growth that will create jobs and income for Tri-Cities employees,” he said.

This story was originally published December 16, 2020 at 11:55 AM.