US Highway 395 4-Lane Conversion Project
A 4-Lane Highway Conversion from Spokane to Barney's Junction at Kettle Falls, Washington
US Highway 395 runs north-south through California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. This highway was originally created in 1926 and is the main corridor between Spokane, WA and Kettle Falls, WA, WA stretches 79.7 miles between mileposts 172 and 242 and is the focus of my project. Because I live around the north end of this highway, I have noticed traffic increase over time as the number of people moving to our rural area has increased, especially during the post-pandemic. I was curious to know what the data can tell us about the potential for ameliorating the increase in traffic congestion now and into the future.
this map represents the analysis area of US Highway 395 between milepost 172 and 242. the orange line represents the area of the analysis along US Highway 395. The green blue color represents the city limits of Deer Park, Chewelah, Colville, and Kettle Falls, Washington
I would like to research the feasibility, benefits, and potential challenges of expanding US Highway 395 from its current two-lane configuration to a four-lane configuration between Kettle Falls and Spokane, Washington. Increasing capacity, improving traffic flow, and enhancing safety are the goals. The research will focus on assessing the economic and environmental implications, along with logistical aspects of the expansion. Other comparable roadways may have more alternate routes, meaning people aren’t as affected by crashes and detours. US Highway 395 from Kettle Falls to Spokane has no alternate route to use whenever there is a fatal accident.
Traffic Analysis
I'm going to show you the Traffic Counts by the Annual Average Daily Traffic Count for 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020 and the "Current" Traffic Counts. I am showing a map of the Traffic Counts for 2005 along US Highway 395. The Annual Average Daily Traffic on US Highway 395 are between 1253 to 6635 vehicles per day in 2005.
Fig. 1 - Traffic Counts from 2005
This is a map that represents the Traffic Counts for 2010. The Annual Average Daily Traffic on US Highway 395 are between 1129 to 7198 vehicles per day in 2010.
Fig. 2 - Traffic Counts from 2010
This is a map that represents the Traffic Counts for 2015. The Annual Average Daily Traffic on US Highway 395 are between 1048 to 8093 vehicles per day in 2015.
Fig. 3 - Traffic Counts from 2015
This is a map that represents the Traffic Counts for 2020. The Annual Average Daily Traffic on US Highway 395 are between 2400 to 16000 vehicles per day in 2020.
Fig. 4 - Traffic Counts from 2020
This is a map that represents the "Current" Traffic Counts. The Annual Average Daily Traffic on US Highway 395 are between 2400 to 16000 vehicles per day.
Fig. 5 - Traffic Counts from 2022
This map is a representation of the Traffic Hot spots on US Highway 395 using the Hot spot Analysis. The Blue represents the cold spots, the grey represents nothing significant, while red represents the hot spots.
Fig. 6 - Traffic Hotspots from 2022
Congestion is increasing on US Highway 395 from milepost 172 to 242, averaging a 122 percent increase in Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) from 2005 to 2022, with certain stretches of highway increasing as much as 163 percent.
Fig. 7 - Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) 2005-2022
In this section of the story map, I would like to show you the potential impacts of the construction of the four-lane Highway 395 on the wetlands, sensitive aquatic areas and DNR Land.
This is a representation of one the wetlands and sensitive aquatic areas along US Highway 395. The light green areas represent the pastured wetlands, while the green areas represent the forested wetlands.
while the light blue areas represent the wetlands that are less than a half an acre, the blue lines represents the sensitive aquatic areas along the highway , and I have made a 100-ft buffer on each sides of the highway to cover the potential impact.
The green outlined area represents the DNR Land parcel along US Highway 395 about 1-2 miles north of Loon Lake, Washington
In this section of the map, I would like to present the Spokane Off-Reservation Trust Land along US Highway 395 around 2 miles south of Chewelah, Washington. The transparent light yellow polygons represent the Tribal Land. Like the Wetlands buffer, I've also made a orange-yellowish 100-ft buffer to determine if WSDOT may or may not need to be negotiated with the Spokane Indian Tribe in order to widen US Highway 395. The green dots represents the 1/10 Mileposts.
I would like to present the population growth from 2010 to 2020 in Colville, WA to show an example of one of the towns along the US Highway 395 Corridor. The lighter orange represents the lower population density, while the dark orange and brown orange represents the higher population density per square mile.
Population growth of Colville, Washington from 2010 to 2020
The population along the US Highway 395 Corridor with a 1-mile radius buffer has increased from 32,647 people in 2010 to 35,348 people in 2020, which is an 8% population growth from 2010. However, the population of Deer Park, Washington has increased from 4,086 people in 2010 to 4,899 people in 2020, which is a 20% population growth from 2010. The population of Chewelah, Washington has decreased from 2,926 people in 2010 to 2,752 people in 2020, which is a 6% population decline from 2010. The population of Colville, Washington has increased from 5,048 people in 2010 to 5,266 people in 2020, which is a 4% population growth from 2010. The population of Kettle Falls, Washington has increased from 1,866 people in 2010 to 1,969 people in 2020, which is 5.5% population growth from 2010.
Fig. 8 - Population Growth of US 395 Corridor Over Time
In this section of the map, I would like to present the Crash Data along the US Highway 395 Corridor. On US Highway 395, there were 4 fatalities in 2005, 5 fatalities in 2006, 2 fatalities in 2007, 4 fatalities in 2008. From 2005 to 2008 there were 18 fatalities on US Highway 395, which averages 4.5 fatalities per year.
Fig. 8 - Fatalities on US Highway 395 from 2005 to 2008
On US Highway 395, there were 3 fatalities in 2009, 4 fatalities in 2010, 4 fatalities in 2011, 1 fatality in 2012. which averages 3 fatalities per year.
Fig. 9 - Fatalities on US Highway 395 from 2009 to 2012
On US Highway 395, there were 2 fatalities in 2013, 5 fatalities in 2014, 2 fatalities in 2015, 2 fatalities in 2016, which averages 2.75 fatalities per year.
Fig. 10 - Fatalities on US Highway 395 from 2013 to 2016
On US Highway 395, there were 3 fatalities in 2017, 5 fatalities in 2018. On US Highway 395, there were 4 fatalities in 2019, 2 fatalities in 2020 and 3 fatalities in 2021, which averages 2.75 fatalities per year.
Fig. 11 - Fatalities on US Highway 395 from 2017 to 2021
On US Highway 395 from 2005 to 2021, over the course of 17 years, there were 55 fatalities on US Highway 395 from Milepost 172 to Milepost 242, which averages 3.2352 fatalities on US Highway 395 per year. Though traffic has increased, I found no correlation between traffic increase and an increase in fatalities. The red X repersents a fatality on US Highway 395
Fig. 12 - Crash Fatalities of US 395 Corridor Over Time
In this section of the map, I would like to represent the crash frequency along US Highway 395. The pale colors representing the lower crash frequency, while the darker brown orange represents the higher crash frequency from 2005 to 2021.
Based on the Population, Environmental, Traffic, and Crash data, there are 3 sections of US Highway 395 from Milepost 172 to 242 need to be widened from a two-lane highway to a four-lane highway starting this section from Milepost 172 north of Spokane, Washington to Milepost 198.3 near Valley, Washington. The majority of the route will be a grass median divided four-lane highway, some parts of this section of the highway will be concrete divided with a jersey barrier.
Fig. 13 - US Highway 395 going North at Milepost 172
In this section of US Highway 395 from Milepost 179.5 to Milepost 181.4, there will be a jersey barrier divided four-lane highway with lower speed limits and the red circle with the black dot represents a 2 lane roundabouts on Short Rd/ Main Street, H Street, Crawford St/ Monore Rd, and Gibson Dahl Rd. For Example in Image below.
Fig. 14 - 2-lane Roundabot on US Highway 2 in Mead, Washington
Fig. 15 - US Highway 395 going North on Milepost 179.5
Fig. 16 - US Highway 395 going North Looking at Gibson-Dahl Rd
From Milepost 181.5 north of Deer Park, Washington to Milepost 187.2 between Loon Lake and Clayton, Washington. In this part of the section of highway, this is a representation of US Highway 395 and Frontage roads in Clayton, Washington. There will be a exit ramp going north to meet a single-lane roundabout to access Railroad Ave and the corner US Highway 395 will be widened and smoother to comfortably go at 70mph safely.
Fig. 17 - US Highway 395 going north looking at a sharp turn at Clayton, Washington. WSDOT, please widen this corner.
On US Highway 395 from Milepost 187.3 to Milepost 192.5 north of Loon Lake, Washington, this section of highway will be a concrete or rail graud divided four-lane highway with occasional left turn lanes and 3 double-lane roundabouts.
Fig. 18 - US Highway 12 in Grays Harbor County, Washington with a rail guard divided highway with a left turn lane.
There is a railroad bridge over US Highway 395 near Milepost 187.4, the bridge will need to be rebuilt to accomadate the four-lanes of highway going under the railroad bridge
Fig. 19 - US Highway 395 looking North going under the railroad bridge.
Fig. 19 - US Highway 395 going North through the roundabout at Milepost 190.5
In September 2022, the roundabout at the US Highway 395 and State highway 292 intersection has been completed. In this proposal, the current single-lane roundabout will be upgrade to a double-lane roundabout, add another double-lane roundabout at Milepost 190.8 and add a third double-lane roundabout at milepost 192.1 where US Highway 395 and Maple St/Agar Rd intersects.
Fig. 20 - US Highway 395 going North looking at Maple St/Agar Rd
On US Highway 395 from Milepost 192.2 north of Loon Lake, Washington to Milepost 198.3 near Valley, Washington. But from Milepost 195.6 to Milepost 196, US Highway 395 will be a concrete barrier divided four-lane highway because there is culvert that goes under US highway 395, so the construction can make the least amount of impact on Grouse Creek as possible.
Fig. 21 - US Highway 395 going North looking at Grouse Creek
After Milepost 196, US Highway 395 will become a grass divided highway for 2.3 miles until this section of highway goes back to it's two-lane configuration
Fig. 22 - US Highway 395 going North looking at Bulldog Creek/Skok Rd
This is the second section of US Highway 395 from Milepost 172 to 242 that needs to be widened to a four-lane Highway. From Milepost 209.7 north of Chewelah, Washington to Milepost 215.3 south of Addy, Washington will be a undivided four-lane highway with a center left turn lanes at Immel Rd and Bluecreek Rd.
Fig. 23 - US Highway 395 going North at Milepost 209.7
Fig. 24 - US Highway 395 going North looking at Addy, Washington
This is the third section of US Highway 395 from Milepost 172 to Milepost 242 that needs to be widened to a four-lane highway. Between Milepost 228.5/Milepost 228.6 to Milepost 231.7, there will be a concrete, rail guard divided four-lane highway or an undivided four-lane highway with double-lane roundabouts at Mountain View Ave, Oakshot Rd and Williams Lake Rd at Milepost 231.7.
Fig. 25 - US Highway 395 going North looking at Colville, Washington
From Milepost 231.7 to Milepost 23.7, there will be a undivided four-lane highway because from Milepost 233.7 to Milepost 235.2, there is an existing undivided four-lane highway, so why not?
Fig. 26 - US Highway 395 going North at Milepost 233.7
Fig. 27 - US Highway 395 going North where right lane is about to end
