Letter: Why is the Gage-Steptoe intersection so grossly under-designed?

Go west on Gage? Not!

Per the recent story on Kennewick’s plan to further connect south Kennewick to State Route 240 via Steptoe, the master plan of establishing Steptoe as a major arterial has been clear for several years.

With such a long-term vision coming to fruition, what’s unclear is why the Gage-Steptoe intersection was so grossly under-designed. Anyone going west on Gage from Steptoe is forced through the intersection and the traffic light (with those heading south). There is no dedicated right (west) turn lane, and there is no westward access from Steptoe to Gesa and the other businesses.

According to the long-term vision, this situation was clearly “planned” to only get worse. I am sure there are details we the public cannot understand, but it appears we are creating another situation that will only get more expensive and difficult to resolve (e.g. Queensgate/Keene, George Washington Way access to Interstate 182) after the “planned” development occurs. Then the planners will lament about what a complex problem we have created but could not foresee.

I would love to read an in-depth story where the city planners (particularly Richland’s) explain how this heavily used intersection was anticipated to accommodate this “vision.” I just don’t understand.

Richland

This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 7:05 PM with the headline "Letter: Why is the Gage-Steptoe intersection so grossly under-designed?."