New passing lane being constructed

WENATCHEE – The Washington State Department of Transportation says travelers can expect no restrictions as SR97 is reconfigured to allow two-way traffic during the construction of a nearly two-mile passing lane north of Brewster.

The 1.78 mile long passing lane between Mileposts 269 and 271 is a $979,000 project being built by Granite Construction crews seven miles north of Brewster. Construction began July 8 and should be complete by Labor Day. The passing lane is the second constructed in the county this year, the first being near Riverside. The project engineer is Kevin Waligorski.

There are also a couple of utility projects in Okanogan County, including one on SR153 south of Carlton. Crews will be stringing new fiber on Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m on SR20 west of Loup Loup. Expect up to 10 minute delays with flagger controlled traffic where Potelco crews are stringing new fiber optic cable on existing PUD power poles about 5 miles west of the Loup Loup Summit.

A WSDOT Maintenance Project is also taking place on SR20 from milepost 207 to 215. Shoulder repairs will take place Monday through Thursday only from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., expect up to 20 minute delays with pilot-car controlled traffic from Beaver Creek, 8 miles east to the Loup Loup summit where DOT maintenance crews are chip sealing shoulders damaged by last winter’s floods. Depending on progress, work may extend south to SR 153.

In the Wenatchee area, SR28 at the east end of the Sen. George Seller Bridge crews will be making improvements Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ramps and lane closures as well as some detours are being used. Expect minimal traffic restrictions as work continues off road for landscaping, electrical and signing work. Nighttime, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., striping continues, as does installation of recessed pavement markers and rumble strips. Ramp and lane closures as well as some detours are being used when and where needed.

In this $16.4 million project, KLB Construction Co. crews built a bypass for southbound SR 28 traffic to the west of the Grant Road intersection and widened eastbound Grant Road to allow a triple left turn from southbound SR 28. Work began Sept. 6, 2011 and should be complete this month.