Chelan weighs US 97A closures to shorten airport waterline construction

CHELAN — Closing part of US 97A on workdays could shorten construction of a waterline to Chelan Municipal Airport by about six weeks and save an estimated $300,000, city officials told the Chelan City Council on Oct. 13.

The proposal would replace alternating, single-lane traffic on a portion of the project with a full closure during workdays, while maintaining emergency and local access and reopening the road on weekends. Drivers taking the detour would face about 10 additional minutes of travel.

Public Works Director Jake Youngren sought council feedback before pursuing approval from the Washington State Department of Transportation, which controls traffic arrangements for most of the project. Council took no formal action, and the closure remains under consideration.

The project would install approximately 2.8 miles of 16-inch water main, mostly along US 97A between Isenhart Road and Apple Acres Road, to provide water service to the airport. Construction is targeted to begin Feb. 1, 2027.

Under the current traffic plan, construction would take approximately four and a half to five months. Alternating traffic would remain available through the section under discussion, with estimated waits of one to 10 minutes depending on when drivers reach the queue.

A workday closure could reduce the overall project to just over three months, allowing completion in May, according to the city’s presentation.

Youngren said closing the road would give crews more room to work and allow longer sections of trench to remain open while workers install welded high-density polyethylene pipe. Maintaining traffic requires crews to backfill the trench to keep the roadway usable.

The existing bid plan already includes a full closure within city limits, from the Isenhart Road area to Willmorth Drive, with traffic detoured along Willmorth. The proposed change concerns another approximately 6,150-foot section currently planned for alternating traffic. Farther toward Apple Acres Road, shoulder work would allow two-way traffic to continue.

Several council members favored completing construction sooner but raised concerns about winter driving, school transportation and traffic entering the highway along the detour.

Councilmember Cesar Rivera-Vargas expressed support for temporary automated traffic signals, citing his experience traveling through similar construction zones. Youngren said those signals would be used if the city retains alternating traffic, though changing traffic volumes could produce longer queues.

Councilmember Tim Hollingsworth leaned toward a closure but raised concerns about intersection safety along the detour and the effect on Howard Flat residents and people commuting from farther north. Council members also discussed whether school buses could pass through the work zone at designated times. Youngren said that possibility had not been worked out.

Chelan Fire and Rescue supports a full closure, citing worker safety and the opportunity to finish before fire season and peak tourism, according to the presentation. Emergency access through the work zone would be maintained. Outreach to the school district and sheriff’s office was still pending.

The city has approximately $8.7 million in available project funding, including $6.5 million from the state and contributions from Chelan County, the Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority and the city. The current estimated project cost, including construction, design and construction management, is about $5.95 million.

Youngren said $5.5 million of the state funding must be spent by the end of June 2027. Although staff anticipates meeting that deadline under either traffic approach, winter weather and other construction uncertainties remain concerns.

The project was scheduled to be advertised for bids Oct. 14 under the existing traffic plan, with bids opening Nov. 5. A closure could be incorporated through an addendum before bids are opened, potentially shifting the bid opening by a week or two.

Youngren said he would continue discussions with WSDOT, seek additional feedback and update council as the options develop.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media