Hard Work Pays Off for U.S. Highway 12 Coalition

    Thanks to the efforts of the U.S. Highway 12 Coalition, substantial progress is being made on the four-laning of U.S. Highway 12 between Burbank and the City of Walla Walla.
    Last year, several major milestones were achieved. In February, Congress approved $4.4 million for the project. In May, the Washington State Legislature approved a state transportation revenue package, which added $32.5 million for U.S. Highway 12. Enough money has now been secured to construct a four-lane divided freeway from Burbank to the Wallula Junction.

    Planning efforts are currently underway to determine the four-lane footprint from Wallula Junction to the City of Walla Walla. The coalition’s current priority is to obtain money to design and build the first nine miles of fourlane from the City of Walla Walla to McDonald Road.
    The U.S. Highway 12 Coalition was formed in August 2001 by a group of public agencies and private businesses to develop a

comprehensive strategy to advance Walla Walla’s long sought after goal of four-laning U.S. Highway 12.
    Coalition members pooled their financial resources to support representation in Washington, DC, and develop comprehensive marketing materials articulating the safety and economic development justifications for four-laning.
    U.S. Senator Patty Murray and Congressman George Nethercutt have been leading the way at the federal level to obtain funding. Senator Maria Cantwell has also been supportive. At the state level, Senator Mike Hewitt and Representatives Bill Grant and Dave Mastin deserve credit for making sure U.S. Highway 12 was included in the state transportation package.