Traffic alert: Why there’s drilling on one of Hanford’s busiest commuter routes

The city of Richland is cautioning drivers passing near the intersection of Highway 240 and Aaron Drive to take extra care as contractors prepare for improvements to one of its most congested corridors.

Drilling work will take place near the intersection between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., weekdays until early May.

Drivers should expect intermittent traffic delays, as well as shoulder and lane closures on the highway, on Aaron Drive and on the Interstate 182 off-ramp.

The test work will help with the designs as the city plans for the Highway 240 and Aaron Drive intersection improvement project to address congestion at one of the city’s biggest traffic bottlenecks.

Thousands of vehicles funnel through that intersection during peak Hanford site commuter hours. An estimated 18,000 vehicles a day are expected to be using that corridor by 2045.

A city traffic study showed if there are no changes, drivers will be delayed up to 3 minutes at that pinch point during peak hours.

The planned changes include an eastbound bypass to allow traffic to flow continuously onto Interstate 182 without stopping at Aaron Drive as a way of reducing congestion, as well as a roundabout and new pedestrian and bicycle path.

Currently, Highway 240 drivers must go through the traffic light at the Aaron Drive intersection, whether the driver is turning onto Aaron Drive or proceeding to I-182, said the city.

That causes traffic to back up on Highway 240 as drivers wait at the light.

The city said the backup is especially long on southbound Highway 240 during the evening rush hour, particularly from Hanford nuclear site commuters.

The city also is trying to make it safer for pedestrians and bicyclists at that intersection.

Currently, pedestrians who want to go from the Greenbelt Trail north of Aaron Drive to the trails south of the intersection along the Yakima River or in the Chamna Nature Preserve must go about a mile and a half out of their way, said the city.

Jacobs Engineering is carrying out the work. Go to cleargov.com for more information.

This story was originally published April 15, 2026 at 11:30 AM.