Senator Murray Announces Release of Over $800,000 for Clallam County Highway Improvements

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that $871,416 has been released by the U.S. Department of Transportation for US 101 safety improvements in Deer Park, WA. Senator Murray secured funding for this project in the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which provides funding for most federal government programs and targeted community projects for Fiscal Year 2009.

“Investing in our transportation infrastructure is one of the best ways to help our communities, create jobs, and boost the economy,” said Senator Patty Murray.  “Improving U.S. 101 will put people to work today, help our commuters, and keep businesses moving to sustain economic growth in the future.”

“Construction of the US 101 Overpass at Deer Park will greatly reduce the chance for injury accidents in the Deer Park corridor where County residents have suffered fatality accidents in the past," said Ross Tyler, Clallam County Engineer. "The project will also facilitate job growth as access to commercial areas on both sides of US 101 will be enhanced.”

The US 101 Deer Park Overpass Project seeks to comprehensively address all major traffic safety issues related to this US 101 intersection area that produced four fatalities in five years by construction of a two way vehicle and pedestrian overpass.

The project will help fund a US 101 overpass at Deer Park that will improve a primary access road to Olympic National Park and eliminate all of the dangerous left turn movements from the Deer Park and Buchanan Road intersections with US 101.

In addition to the overpass, TCSP Program funds will be used to improve the two County road intersections with US 101 within the project limits to improve safety and maintain mobility on US 101. The US 101 Overpass Project will also improve the existing Deer Park Scenic Gateway Center within the project area by upgrading its facilities to meet full safety rest area requirements with the goal of reducing driver fatigue and fatigue related accidents.

As the Chairman of the Transportation and Housing Appropriations Subcommittee overseeing funding for the Department of Transportation, Senator Murray worked to ensure that investments in transportation were included in the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill.