Petition seeks to restore two-way Woodin Avenue Bridge in Chelan

CHELAN – A petition drive is underway seeking support to restore the Woodin Avenue Bridge from the current one-lane traffic entering the city to its original two-way capacity. The petition drive was initiated last fall by former mayor and current city council member Bob Goedde.

Goedde recalled an earlier petition/survey he spearheaded. 

“I did a survey when Walmart came down,” said Goedde. “A small group was suing (Walmart) because it did not meet the code in one place.”

Goedde said his one-week campaign to gauge public support/opposition to the store generated an initial response of 1,500 signers in support and 48 opposed. 

“The final one came out 1,850 to 56,” said Goedde. “Petitions do work.”

City studies expansion

A recent city survey found more than 70 percent of respondents favored two-way traffic on Woodin. At its May 13 city council meeting the city approved a motion to authorize consulting engineers KPFF to “evaluate the feasibility or reconfiguring the Woodin Avenue Bridge to accommodate two-way traffic.”

As the existing bridge is now configured, its 28-foot width features an eight-foot sidewalk flanked by a five-foot bike lane, a 10-foot outbound vehicle lane, and a five-foot sidewalk. An earlier concept based on an expanded 36-foot width features two 11-foot vehicle lanes, a pair of two-foot shoulders, and two five-foot crosswalks. 

Built in 1927 the bridge received a major facelift in 2018-19 when the city greenlighted a $3.2 million contract with Selland Construction to widen sidewalks and add a bike trail in trade for eliminating the outbound vehicle lane. New components were incorporated into both the materials, including sidewalks of geofoam topped with lightweight concrete, and the design with the addition of the Woodin Avenue Landing Park. When completed the 450-foot-long span had more than 1,900 feet of sidewalks and 1,200 feet of bike lane. 

Read 2023 analysis

In mid-2023 the Transpo Group completed an analysis of the Woodin Avenue corridor from US 97A to Columbia Street that included other important corridors through downtown Chelan. The survey can be viewed on the City of Chelan website, cityofchelan.us. Type Transpo Group in the search bar to access Woodin Ave Bridge Traffic Analysis – Final to read the 12-page report.

Several key intersections were identified within the study area that could be affected with two-way bridge operations. The intersections studied were:

1. Columbia Street & Johnson Avenue. 
2. Sanders Street & Johnson Avenue. 
3. Columbia Street & Woodin Avenue. 
4. Sanders Street & Woodin Avenue. 
5. Woodin Avenue & Webster Avenue (US 97A).

The intersections were included to determine the potential change in travel patterns and average vehicle delay with two-way bridge operations. The analysis used the p.m. peak-hour volumes depicting summer Friday conditions that typically serve the highest number of vehicles.

The results are revealing and the differences minimal.

“While individual movements at intersections, such as at the Columbia Street/Johnson Avenue intersection may improve slightly under two-way operations, the change to two-way operations along the Woodin Avenue Bridge is expected to have little impact on the overall intersection level of service and average vehicle delay when looking at each study intersection.”

The latest proposal to revisit the Woodin Bridge expansion to include two-way traffic may be the most workable route to accommodate both sides of the debate. The bridge project is listed in the city’s six-year transportation Plan (STIP). The city’s new Transportation Benefit District (TBD) is expected to add about $900,000 annually to the street budget.

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media