Where’s the worst traffic in Tri-Cities? The latest numbers may surprise you

There’s a new number out to fuel worries about Tri-Cities traffic congestion.

162,000.

That’s the number of people who will swell the local population to 482,000 over the next 20 years.

They’ll require 55,000 new homes and apartments. And their 28,000 cars promise to exacerbate local traffic woes.

So, what’s being done about it?

Tanner Martin, regional planner for the Benton-Franklin Council of Governments, hit the city council circuit this week to share the latest traffic counts from the regional agency’s biennial traffic survey.

Last year, they deployed nearly 720 traffic counting devices in 25 local jurisdictions to capture information about the speed and types of vehicles using key roadways.

The counters — those tubes stretched across streets to collect information — were placed in both rural and urban areas. No community escaped their notice. There were 200 in Kennewick on down to three in Prosser.

The data they captured paints a picture that will help guide local planners as they make decisions on road projects in coming years.

There were a few surprises.

In some places, the sheer volume peaked not at commuter hours but at other times of days.

And most of the busiest roads in the region still saw less traffic than they did nine years ago.

Pasco’s Road 68, Richland’s George Washington Way and Kennewick’s Columbia Center Boulevard were still the most traveled thanks to the tens of thousands of commuters and shoppers each day.

Here’s how all the local roads stacked up:

Traffic’s Top 10

1. Pasco, Road 68 north of the Interstate 182 ramps. Average 49,500 vehicles a day. Peak volumes: 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
2. Richland, George Washington Way, south of Jadwin Avenue. Average 41,000 vehicles daily. Peak volumes: 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.
3. Richland. George Washington Way, north of Adams Street. Average 38,700 vehicles daily. Peak volumes: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
4. Kennewick, Columbia Center Boulevard south of Arrowhead Avenue. Average 34,200 vehicles a day. Peak volumes: 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
5. Richland, George Washington Way south of Bradley Boulevard. Average 33,000 vehicles a day. Peak volumes 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
6. Richland, George Washington Way, south of Lee Boulevard. Average 32,700 vehicles a day. Peak volumes: 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.
7. Kennewick, Highway 397 north of Columbia Drive. Average 28,600 vehicles daily. Peak volumes 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
8. Pasco, Broadmoor Boulevard (aka Road 100), north of I-182 ramps. Average 28,500 vehicles a day. Peak volumes: 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.
9. Kennewick, Edison Street, south of Highway 240. Average 28,300 vehicles daily. Peak volumes: 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.
10. Kennewick, Columbia Center Boulevard, south of West Deschutes Avenue. Average of 27,100 vehicles a day. Peak volumes: 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Gains and losses

Interesting enough, most of the busiest roads in the Tri-Cities aren’t as busy as they were when the traffic count program began in 2016.

Pasco’s Road 68 recorded a 2.8% drop.

Richland’s George Washington Way at Bradley Boulevard fell by more than 23%. Other George Washington stretches saw volumes fall by lesser amounts compared to 2016.

Kennewick’s Columbia Center Boulevard at Arrowhead fell nearly 16%.

But there were significant increases elsewhere in town.

In Kennewick, traffic on Highway 397 leading to and from the cable bridge rose nearly 44% — most likely the result of motorists detouring around the blue bridge while it was repainted.

Pasco’s Broadmoor ramps were up 24% and Richland’s Queensgate/Keene Intersection saw volumes increase 18%.

The 2020 traffic count was delayed to 2021 to avoid skewing results caused by Washington’s disruptive Stay Home Stay Healthy order in the early days of the COVID-19 era.

Where the trucks are

Heavy vehicles, aka trucks, accounted for the highest percent of traffic in these locations, by community.

Kennewick: Clodfleter Road south of Ridgeline (15.3%), 10th Avenue west of Highway 397 (14.1%), Clearwater Avenue west of 10th Avenue (14%)

Pasco: Commercial Avenue north of East St. Helens Ave. (36.2%), Hillsboro Street east of North Railroad Avenue (36.8%), Commercial Avenue south of Kartchner Street (31.3%), Foster Wells Road east of Industrial Way (28.5%) and Industrial Way north of North Rainier Avenue (23.9%).

Richland: Hagen Road north of Highway 240 (29.1%), Battelle Boulevard west of Stevens drive (20.8%), Kingsgate Way north of Highway 240 (16%), Battelle Boulevard east of Kingsgate Way (14.8%) and George Washington Way south of Bradley Boulevard (14.1%)

West Richland: Harrington Road north of Twin Bridges Road (13.8%), Highway 224 south of Keene Road (13.7%), Bombing Range Road south of Kennedy (13.4%).

Unincorporated Benton County: Piert Road south of Game Farm Road (50.4%), Piert Road north of East Lechelt Road (49%), Travis Road north of Sellards Road (41.9%), Webber Canyon Road south of Badger Road (35.7%) and Sellards Road east of Highway 221 (35.3%).

Unincorporated Franklin County: Booker Road north of Highway 17 (46.6%), Moon Road north of Paradise Road (44.4%), Foster Wells Road north of Pasco-Kahlotus Road (44%), Selph Landing road east of Columbia River Road (42.1%), Hendricks Road west of Sagehill Road (41.2%)

Want more?

The council of governments presents its traffic findings to local city councils in a series of meetings through June.

• Pasco – 7 p.m., Monday, April 28, at city hall, 525 N. Third Ave.
• West Richland –6 p.m., Tuesday, May 6, at 3100 Belmont Blvd.
• Benton County – 9 a.m., Tuesday, May 13, at Prosser Courthouse and Kennewick Admin. Building, 7122 W. Okanogan Place, Building E.
• Prosser – 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 13, at 1002 Dudley Ave.
• Benton City – 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 20, at 1009 Dale Ave.
• Franklin County – Tentative: 9 a.m., Wednesday, May 21, at county courthouse, 1016 N. Fourth Ave., Pasco.
• Connell – 6 p.m., Wednesday, June 18, at 104 E. Adams St.
• Kennewick – To be determined.

The Richland City Council heard the presentation April 15. Its meetings are recorded and can be viewed on the Cityview web site.

The next traffic count will be in 2026, with planning beginning later this year.

This story was originally published April 16, 2025 at 12:40 PM.

Wendy Culverwell

Tri-City Herald

Reporter Wendy Culverwell writes about growth, development and business for the Tri-City Herald. She has worked for daily and weekly publications in Washington and Oregon. She earned a degree in English and economics from the University of Puget Sound. Support my work with a digital subscription