Quick dip into Richland WinCo won’t be so quick with construction detour

Road work at Richland’s main entrance is forcing a detour on northbound drivers hoping to turn right onto Columbia Point Drive to reach WinCo Foods and other destinations near the riverfront.

The right turn lane from George Washington Way at Aaron Drive/Columbia Point Drive is closed through Nov. 30 while a contractor remakes the heavily trafficked intersection.

The southern stretch of George Washington Way is the third busiest in the Tri-Cities, with nearly 39,000 vehicles passing by daily, according to a 2024 traffic county by the Benton Franklin Council of Governments.

Northbound motorists can bypass the closed turn lane by turning onto Comstock Street and following Bradley Boulevard along the Columbia River back to Columbia Point Drive.

The southern end of George Washington Way is being expanded to accommodate heavy traffic demands.

Work includes an additional southbound lane along George Washington Way, a second left turn lane from Columbia Point onto George Washington/Highway 240 and new traffic and pedestrian signals.

Sidewalks are being widened between Benham Street and Aaron Drive. Ellsworth Earthworks is the contractor.

Go to richland.wa.gov/SouthGway.

This story was originally published October 6, 2025 at 12:21 PM.