Confluence Parkway Project Getting Spotlight in Olympia

The $134 million Confluence Parkway Project is being spotlighted by lawmakers in Olympia.

State Senator Brad Hawkins met with key players in the project during a Zoom conference Thursday, which included Wenatchee Mayor Frank Kuntz, LINK Transit General Manager Richard DeRock, and Chelan-Douglas Transportation Council Executive Director Jeff Wilkens.

 Key members of both parties in the Senate Transportation Committee - including Chair Marko Liias (D-Everett) and Ranking Member Curtis King (R-Yakima) - also participated in the conference, where Hawkins stressed the importance of the project.

“Legislators are getting closer and closer to developing the next statewide transportation investment package, so we need to communicate how important the Confluence Parkway is to our community’s future,” said Hawkins.

Hawkins is pushing for the Confluence Parkway project to be included in the next transportation package lawmakers consider.

The $134 million project is designed to help ease traffic congestion in north Wenatchee near the Wenatchee River.

Funding includes $49 million from a recent federal grant, leaving $85 million needed to complete construction.

The project includes a new roadway and new bridge connecting to the U.S. 2/97 interchange. It also includes improvements to the existing route through north Wenatchee, State Route 285.

Kuntz and Wilkens highlighted the project in a PowerPoint presentation.

Some of its features include constructing a Miller Street underpass of railroad tracks and Walla Walla Avenue (Stemilt access), upgrading the roadway to a 2 to 3 lane arterial with non-motorized facilities and eliminate access to/from Maple Street.

The project has been in the planning stages dating back to at least 2009.