Ephrata completes upgrades to Nat Washington Way

EPHRATA – After months of planning and construction, Nat Washington Way has received significant upgrades designed to improve an important thoroughfare in Ephrata. 

Funded by an almost $158,000 Transportation Improvement Board grant, the improvements include a new layer of chip seal and the addition of a center turn lane, enhancing both accessibility and safety for residents, according to City Engineer Shawn O’Brien.  

Before the project, O’Brien said, the road presented challenges for drivers and pedestrians alike. Ephrata Mayor Bruce Reim expressed satisfaction with the completed upgrades.  

“It has worked out better than we thought it would. It’s been a nice little upgrade,” Reim said. “Moving to a three-lane configuration with a center turn lane will really enhance accessibility to the Catholic school and the residential areas and churches in that area.” 

Previously, that section of Nat Washington Way had two lanes in each direction and lacked a center turn lane.  

The repair work covered more than 6,900 feet from the railroad crossing at A Street Southeast to the street’s intersection with State Route 282, where construction of a roundabout is planned as part of the construction of the Grant County Jail. O’Brien said the work was essential not only for immediate safety concerns but also for extending the life of the roadway.  

O’Brien said the initial plan to fully overlay the road was revised to better fit budget constraints.  

“We could do it for quite a bit cheaper and address the entire section,” O’Brien explained. 

In addition to the more durable surface, the new design includes a dedicated center turn lane and improved bike lanes that now extend from the railroad tracks to Ninth Avenue. O’Brien highlighted the benefits of this design, referred to as a "road diet."  

“It reduces crashes and accidents, and it also makes it safer for pedestrians to cross the road,” he said. “Speeds are more consistent when there’s just one lane going in each direction, which can prevent accidents.” 

The project has garnered positive feedback from the community, according to Reim. 

“We’ve got good feedback on it. It gives us a nicer bike lane, and we’re pretty excited about it,” he said.  

The completion of Nat Washington Way is just one of a number of Ephrata’s ongoing infrastructure improvement efforts. O’Brien said there were over 40 other roads that received chip sealing maintenance this year.  

O’Brien emphasized the need for continued maintenance.  

“The city has not done much chip sealing over the last 30 years, but we’re going to be bringing it back. Our goal is to do it at least every other year and, if possible, an annual project,” he said.  

    The City of Ephrata has completed several road repair projects. The ones in red were double-chip sealed, those in blue had a single chip seal and the one in green is the Nat Washington Way project.