Road-widening and roundabouts in North Clark County are set to receive millions in funding as the Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council (RTC) announced its latest slew of grants.
On Sept. 13, the RTC announced 10 grants totaling about $11.6 million, two of which directly affect North County road projects.
The RTC granted $1,929,000 for a project in Battle Ground to improve a section of Southwest Eaton Boulevard. The project will widen the road from two lanes to three between Southwest 20th Avenue and State Route 503.
Bike lanes and sidewalks will also be added, as will a traffic signal at the Southwest 20th Avenue intersection, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. The grant is set for distribution in 2025, according to the RTC, and is estimated to cost close to $6 million.
The council also approved a $1.3 million grant to put roundabouts on 179th Street. The roundabouts will be placed at the road’s intersection with Northeast 29th and Northeast 50th avenues, with the grant also set for 2025. The project is estimated to cost about $37 million.
The grants were awarded through a competitive evaluation process, the RTC announcement stated. Fifteen projects were submitted for the grants, including a project to realign Southeast Grace Avenue to connect Main Street and Southeast Rasmussen Boulevard, which did not receive grant funding.
The RTC annually awards the grants, which are funded by a number of federal aid programs, a staff report for the resolution approving the grants stated. Other projects in the county to receive funds this year included $2.5 million for the widening of Northeast 152nd Avenue between Padden Parkway and 99th Street, $2.5 million for bus rapid transit on Highway 99 and $1.8 million to extend Northeast 18th Street in Vancouver to connect 97th Avenue to 107th Avenue, among others.
