Last week, the City of Battle Ground concluded a two-week survey that garnered 163 responses from residents about a proposed road project that may affect areas surrounding Battle Ground Public School properties.
The survey sought public input on various aspects of the conceptual road design for creating a Northwest Fifth Street, which would link state Route 503 to North Parkway Avenue. This road would connect SR 503 to the intersection of Northwest Fifth Way, just north of the Fred Meyer.
Key areas of focus in the survey included safety, cost, traffic flow, aesthetics, functionality, pedestrian access and the potential impact on adjacent properties.
Project overview and timeline
Preliminary engineering for Northwest Fifth Street began in 2021. The road is expected to connect to four neighborhood streets, situated north of Battle Ground Public School’s softball fields. Associate civil engineer Dan Hollen said the road will be constructed directly north of the softball fields adjacent to Battle Ground High School. The preliminary design suggests that the new road will extend approximately 16 feet into the existing softball fields. The road will also loop north around the CAM Academy campus, situated near the intersection.
“We’re very much aware of the impacts to the school district properties. They’re well aware of the field impacts and what will still fit in those phases ... They’ll still function appropriately as both baseball and softball fields,” Hollen said.
In an email to The Reflector, Battle Ground Public Schools Director of Communications Amanda Richter confirmed the district is aware of the project. Richter noted the conceptual road is too early in development for further discussion.
“We have had a couple of preliminary discussions with the city about the potential for this project but have not yet received a detailed presentation, nor has our board of directors taken any formal action. We won’t be able to assess the potential impact on the adjacent schools until more information is available. BGPS will continue to work with the city as this project progresses,” Richter wrote.
Traffic analysis and funding
As required by the Washington state Department of Transportation (WSDOT), which oversees state Route 503, the city is exploring alternative designs for the future intersection west of CAM Academy, including:
• A roundabout, aimed at improving traffic flow and enhancing safety.
• A right-in/right-out design, which restricts traffic movement and allows vehicles to only enter or exit in specific directions.
• A traffic signal to regulate intersection flow and manage congestion.
Global Transportation Engineering, the city’s consultant, is conducting a traffic analysis to assess how the new road may affect local traffic flow, including potential congestion relief for nearby streets like Main Street and Parkway Avenue. Smith noted that the data is still in the preliminary phase and is not available for public release at this time.
The project’s total cost is estimated at $3.8 million, with the city contributing about $1.3 million toward engineering, right-of-way acquisition and construction. The state has allocated $2,485,000 to the project. Construction is expected to wrap up by early 2027 should the preliminary design phase conclude as expected in the fourth quarter of 2025.
To learn more about the project’s preliminary design stage, people can reach out to city officials at cityofbg.org/858/NW-5th-Street.
