Ephrata overpass closure might be two days

EPHRATA — Ephrata city officials are hoping to keep the closure to one day, but the closure of the SR 282 overpass has been announced for two days.

The overpass definitely will be closed Monday, and closure has also been scheduled for Tuesday if necessary. “This likely will be the most difficult week of the summer for traffic,” wrote city manager Wes Crago.

“We’re hoping to keep it (the overpass closure) to one day,” Crago said. However, “depending on the work and unmarked underground challenges, this work could continue longer,” Crago wrote.

Access to downtown Ephrata will be via Nat Washington Way and Southeast A Street. People who want to go to Quincy can use Dodson Road to Neva Lake Road. Crago said Railroad Avenue, Empire Road and Road 14 all have city and county restrictions in place for trucks and traffic is a lot slower.

“This (detour) will result in increased traffic on these local streets,” Crago wrote.

“Delays also will be significant on Basin Street from roughly Safeway (1150 Southeast Basin St.) to Southwest 14th Avenue. Traffic generally will be two-way, with diverted lanes. However, at times one-way, one-lane traffic with a flagger is possible.”

The closure is part of a six-month (24 week) project to replace the aging water lines running along Ephrata’s main street. The project will extend almost the entire length of Basin Street (SR 28), about 18,000 feet of 12-inch water main. When it’s complete the new water mains will extend from Oasis Park (2541 Southwest Basin St.) to DK’s Restaurant (805 Southwest Basin St.).

Running concurrently with the street project, the city is replacing sidewalks along Northwest First Avenue. Currently construction crews are removing the old sidewalks. “Delays should be expected for single-lane traffic at times,” Crago wrote. Crews will be working every day next week except July 4.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.