Ramp safety improvements coming to east Vancouver

Drivers who travel between Interstate 205 and state Route 14 in Vancouver should plan for several ramp closures beginning Monday, Aug. 15.

In preparation for the potential rainy days ahead, contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will close ramps on the I-205/SR-14 interchange to apply a high friction surface treatment to improve safety.

WSDOT’s contractor, MJ Hughes Construction, will begin work next week. Crews will close the southbound I-205 off-ramp to eastbound SR 14 nightly, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., Monday, Aug. 15 until Friday, Aug. 19.

To reduce the extended impact to drivers and provide a safe work zone for highway crews, the northbound I-205 ramps to SR-14 will close from 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19 until 5 a.m., Monday, Aug. 22.

High friction surfacing is a process that attaches a sand-like aggregate to the roadway using industrial-strength glue. The end result is a grittier road surface, giving tires extra traction in the wet weather.

“Drivers will have better control on wet surfaces which will result in fewer collisions,” said WSDOT Traffic Engineer Rick Keniston. “This safety enhancement will help keep traffic moving on the interchange and reduce freeway congestion.”

WSDOT has applied high friction surface treatments to other curved interchanges and seen a reduction in collisions by up to 80 percent.

Drivers should watch for highway message signs and add extra time to their trips.