Summer is here and crews are busy on a number of improvements. To help you know before you go, current projects and related traffic impacts include:
Fruitvale Blvd/River Road roundabout opens Aug. 29th
A new roundabout at the intersection of Fruitvale Boulevard/River Road/34th Avenue opens Friday, August 29th. Roundabout construction began on January 30th and has required road closures. It was originally expected to open in early September.
To manage roundabouts effectively, drivers should:
- Yield to traffic inside the roundabout: Vehicles already in the roundabout have the right-of-way. Wait for a safe gap before entering.
- Choose the correct lane: Based on the exit you plan to take, select the appropriate lane. The right lane is typically for right turns and straight-through movements, while the left lane is for left turns and U-turns.
- Use turn signals: Indicate your exit with clear and timely turn signals.
- Approach at a safe speed: Adjust your speed based on traffic conditions and the size of the roundabout.
- Yield to pedestrians: Be vigilant and yield to pedestrians waiting to cross as you enter or exit the roundabout.
- Look for gaps: Wait for a sufficient gap in traffic before entering the roundabout.
- Maintain a consistent speed: Once inside the roundabout, keep a steady and consistent speed.
The Federal Highway Administration has an animated video with tips on safely navigating roundabouts.
For more about the project call City of Yakima Chief Engineer Dana Kallevig at 509-575-6048.
72nd Ave/Washington Ave roundabout construction
The third of four phases to construct a roundabout at the intersection of 72nd Avenue and Washington Avenue begins July 28th. This requires closing the intersection to all traffic 24/7 through September 12th. Detours will be provided via Nob Hill Blvd, 64th Ave and Occidental Road.
The closure will allow for underground work and paving to occur with the least amount of disruption to the public as possible.
Traffic is expected to have full access to the completed roundabout on September 12th, two months ahead of the original schedule of mid-November.
Roundabout construction at 72nd and Washington is funded entirely by state grants. The first of four phases on this project began June 16th. Phase 2 began June 30th, with Phase 3 starting July 28th.
Chip sealing program
The City of Yakima Streets Division began its annual chip sealing program on June 25th.
This year’s project will be completed in the following order:
- Summitview Avenue and Tieton Drive from 48th Avenue to 56th Avenue
- Tieton Drive and Nob Hill Boulevard from 48th Avenue to 60th Avenue
The project is expected to conclude approximately the first week of September. Crews will be working in the project areas from 6 am to 4 pm, Monday through Thursday.
There will be no on-street parking in the project areas while chip sealing is underway. The City asks residents to keep irrigation water off of the chip seal for at least 48 hours so oil will set up properly.
Flaggers are on site to help drivers access homes and businesses and also assist emergency vehicles through the work areas as needed. Message boards will also be on site. There will be intermittent road closures and detours during the project.
To reduce dust and keep work crews safe, 20-mile-per-hour speed limits will be strictly enforced on streets where chip sealing is underway. Access to homes and businesses on the roads to be chip sealed may be restricted for short durations while work is underway.
Expanding water, wastewater access to underserved areas
On June 23rd, the city began a project to expand water/wastewater access to northeast areas of Yakima currently served by private wells and septic systems. These include areas of N. 3rd St, N. 4th St, E. Q St, E. O St and Oak St.
During initial construction of the wastewater system in the northeast project area, the amount of ground water was more than anticipated. Due to the high ground water conditions, work will move to the south central area of Yakima. As a result, 10th Avenue is closed with “local access only” from Mead Avenue to Spokane Street beginning Monday, July 7th.
Work in the south central area is expected to last into August.
Construction will return to the northeast area this fall, when ground water conditions are expected to improve. The project is expected to be completed February 2026.
This is an important project for City of Yakima, to construct new water and wastewater systems in the northeast and south central areas of the city. The northeast area work will include areas along North 3rd Street, North 4th Street, East Q Street, East O Street and Oak Street. South central area improvements will include South 10th Avenue and Woodland Avenue.
Traffic control devices will be in place during construction to direct traffic around the immediate areas of construction. Temporary road closures may be necessary at times, although detours will be in place to provide local access.
Once the new water system is installed, there will be temporary water outages while the new system is being placed into service. A minimum of 24-hours advance notice will be provided for all scheduled water outages.
The $2.2 million grant-funded project will also bring water/wastewater improvements to south central Yakima this fall.
In closing…
- Please remember to slow down in work zones.
- Access to homes and businesses in project areas are maintained as best as possible.
- Street closures may cause interruptions in scheduled refuse collection. Contact the City of Yakima Refuse Division at 509-575-6005 for more information.
- Schedules for these projects are subject to change daily dependent on weather, equipment failure and emergencies.
- See a pothole or an issue with a City street? Let us know at Yak Back | City of Yakima (yakimawa.gov)
- Thank you for your patience and cooperation!
