Tag Archives: Connecting Washington

Sen. King and former Rep. Judy Clibborn

King receives award for work on transportation issues

Sen. Curtis King has been honored by the Washington State Good Roads & Transportation Association for his work on transportation issues.

King, formerly the chair of the Senate Transportation Committee and currently its ranking Republican member, was named Legislator of the Decade by the association at its 2019 Legislative Breakfast Tuesday. The other Legislator of the Decade honoree is former 41st Legislative District Rep. Judy Clibborn, who served as the House Transportation Committee chair for several years until retiring from the Legislature last year.

“I’m honored to be recognized by the Goods Roads & Transportation Association in this way,” said King, R-Yakima, who serves the 14th Legislative District. “Representative Clibborn and I worked well together on transportation issues during our time as transportation chairs.”

King and Clibborn were the main architects of the Connecting Washington transportation package that was approved by the Legislature in 2015.

“The Connecting Washington package was a well thought out and negotiated start to the repair and restoration of our transportation system,” according a brochure produced by the association about the awards. “It incorporated significant resources to complete projects and finish gaps in the system. Listening to local communities and feedback statewide they (King and Clibborn) crafted a bipartisan package to begin repair of our transportation system.”

IN THE NEWS: New Benton City roundabout celebrated today, officials joined WSDOT in ribbon-cutting event

BENTON CITY – State Sen. Curtis King, Acting Secretary of Transportation Roger Millar and Benton City Mayor Linda Lehman celebrated with residents today, Monday, June 13, the opening of a new roundabout along Interstate 82 in Benton City.

The roundabout is the first of many Connecting Washington projects to be completed, bringing safety, economic, environmental and mobility improvements to local areas and throughout the state.

“I was here a few months ago breaking ground and I’m honored to be back as the project comes full circle and we celebrate completion,” said Sen. Curtis King. “The 2015 Connecting Washington transportation package helps every corner of the state.”

Hosted by the Washington State Department of Transportation, the ceremony marked a milestone with the opening of the new roundabout; this is the first of two construction phases for the Red Mountain Interchange Improvements. The project will be complete at the end of June. A small amount of paving, striping and landscaping remains.

Adjacent to I-82, this first phase of planned improvements replaced the State Route 224/State Route 225 intersection with a roundabout, relocated a park and ride lot and improved street lighting and sidewalks in the area. The new roundabout reduces congestion and improves access to Benton City and the Red Mountain area, which is vital to expanding the economic vitality of the region.

Contractor crews began work in December 2015. The total budget for the Red Mountain Interchange Improvements is $30 million, with $4.3 million allocated for this first phase roundabout project.