Yakima Valley drivers, brace yourselves for the wave of construction projects rolling out after your Labor Day festivities. While you're grilling up one last summer feast, crews from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and their hired contractors are gearing up to tackle three hefty infrastructure improvements designed to make your commutes safer and smoother.
Heading the list is the installation of a new roundabout on US 97 at Lateral A in Wapato, set to kick off Tuesday. This infrastructure move is a tandem effort between Washington State Department of Transportation and the Yakama Nation, working to enhance travel through the US 97 corridor from Union Gap to Toppenish. The Lateral A roundabout, which is touted as the third for this highway segment, will see US 97 slinking down to a single lane for both directions, around the clock, every day of the week. Left turns from Northbound US 97 to Lateral A is not happening during construction.
Moving east to Selah, there's pavement work going down on State Route 821, targeting the stretch between Firing Center Road and Pomona View Mobile Park. This project sprawls beyond paving, encompassing bridge repairs and guardrail upgrades—all happening on the weekdays only—causing traffic to ebb and flow through alternating single lanes. And don't be caught off guard by potential full ramp and bridge closures by Firing Center Road next to that 76 Gas Station you pass by without a second glance; notices are promised to be given ahead of time for these disruptions.
Finally, US 12 near Rimrock Lake isn't left unscathed. Starting September 8, a closed section between mileposts 159 and 168 will reroute you to Tieton Reservoir Road. While you're tacking on an extra 20 minutes to your drive, crews will be shoring up the embankment to prevent future erosion, rebuilding slopes and improving drainage—all in the aftermath of spring runoff damage. According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, these efforts should wrap up by mid-October, weather permitting.
Despite the temporary inconveniences, when the cones clear and the dust settles, these enhancements promise safer travels through the Yakima Valley. The roundabout is slated for completion in the summer of 2026 following a winter hiatus, while SR 821 might flaunt its new asphalt come fall 2025. So, map out your detours, plan for a little extra travel time, and keep your eye on the prize: a more navigable and less treacherous path through our scenic homeland.
