La Center council approves contract for roundabout design near interchange

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La Center and the Cowlitz Tribe are moving forward with plans for a roundabout near the Interstate 5 interchange, paving the way for commercial developments expected to boost revenue.

During a Wednesday, Dec. 18, meeting, the La Center City Council unanimously authorized a contract with Harper Houf Peterson Righellis Inc. (HHPR) to design a roundabout at the intersection of Northwest La Center Road and Northwest Paradise Park Road, on the east side of the Interstate 5 Exit 16 interchange. The Tribe will reimburse the city for up to $650,000 in costs associated with designing, permitting and constructing the roundabout.

“The funding, it opens up opportunities doing this with the Tribe that we wouldn’t normally be able to do,” La Center Mayor Tom Strobehn said.

In an April 24 meeting, the City Council approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Cowlitz Tribe in which it will take 50 to 55 acres of land east and northeast of I-5 into trust. Although the Tribe purchased some parcels years ago, the land will officially become a sovereign territory once placed into trust. As part of the agreement, the City of La Center will receive a 1% share of sales tax on these properties and a 1.2% sales tax from leased businesses, surpassing the typical 0.7% rate under state regulations.

Based on expected revenue per commercial property acreage, the agreement will boost La Center’s annual revenue from approximately $111,500 to anywhere between $313,500 and $376,000 once businesses are developed. Part of the revenue boost includes approximately $171,000 in savings from no longer paying operational costs for the properties.



With activity expected to increase east of the I-5 interchange, infrastructure improvements will be essential to manage the anticipated rise in traffic.

The intersection, currently controlled by stop signs on Northwest Paradise Park Road, will become a roundabout to accommodate increased traffic to these developments. City engineer Tony Cooper noted that in 2020, city engineers consulted with the Washington state Department of Transportation, which opposed installing a traffic signal due to potential impacts on the I-5 ramps. That same year, a consultant was hired to analyze the intersection.

“What they found out is that a roundabout is really the best option because there’s less queuing that could happen at that intersection and along the ramps,” Cooper explained.

The city will pay $545,659.86 for the design phase upfront. The city will be reimbursed $272,829, or half of this amount, in November 2025, when the project is expected to reach 90% design completion. At that stage, the designer will also propose the anticipated construction costs.

La Center Public Works Director Tracy Coleman estimates the roundabout’s total cost will exceed $5 million. In addition to the Tribe’s contribution, La Center will explore other funding options to cover the remaining expenses.