City of Woodland - Scott Ave Reconnect

In February of 2017, the City received a draft Alternatives Summary Report for the Scott Avenue Reconnect project.  This page is an attempt to summarize the alternatives that were studied and discuss today's implications to the alternatives studied.

According to the study, the estimated cost for the reconnect project was between $60 and $80 million dollars (in 2017). The project was placed on the city's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) as early as 2016 when it was given an estimated price tag of $10 million for engineering and design, and $86.52 million for total costs (including construction).

Alternatives considered:

Baseline Option - I-5 Overpass at Scott Avenue. This alternative involved the elevation of I-5 onto an overpass over Scott Avenue (similar to the conditions at Exit 21). Because of topography, this likely means that I-5 would have to be elevated from Exit 21 all the way to Exit 22, functionally creating an elevated barrier between the East and West side of the city.

Option 1 - Scott Overcrossing. Elevating Scott Ave onto an overpass over I-5, this would require a significant grade change. Ramps on both sides of I-5 would affect traffic flow and access to multiple properties including several businesses and multiple residential streets.  

Option 2 - Scott Ave & Railroad Crossing. Like Option 1 only this overpass would span I-5 and the railroad. This option would again represent a significant elevated roadway that would visually divide the community and sacrifice north-south traffic patterns for the improvement of east-west circulation.

Option 3 - Scott Overcrossing Realignment. An elevated crossing of I-5, this option would swing south and connect directly to Lewis River Road (SR-503). Similar to Option 1 only this alignment avoids impacts to the residential neighborhoods East of I-5 by moving the alignment south through the commercial zone. Unfortunately, this option would require the purchase of the new RV dealership as well as other privately owned commercial property in order to connect Scott Avenue to Lewis River Road (SR-503).

Option 4 - Scott Overcrossing Realignment with surface connections. Similar to Option 3 this option includes a connector to Atlantic Avenue. In addition to the purchase of the new RV dealership, this option would also require the purchase of other commercial properties with operating businesses.  

Option 5 - Beechwood Street Overcrossing. This option would create an elevated overpass to lift Beechwood Street over I-5. Beechwood is not a through street, however, it could add cross circulation to the city if the street was extended west of the train tracks and into the industrial district. In that case it could provide an additional access east-west connector. But again, ramps or an elevated street make this option highly problematic for local access and the local residents. 

Option 6 - Down River Drive Overcrossing. This option would elevate the north end of Down River Drive and turn it East to cross over I-5 where it would connect to Old Pacific Highway. (Warning: the drawing calls it Lewis River Road, but it is in fact Old Pacific Highway.) The proposed alignment uses undeveloped land which means property acquisition would be more affordable but it assumes that there is adequate circulation and access to both ends of the overpass.   

Option 7 - Scott Ave Full Diamond. A combination of elevated overpasses and on/off ramps, this is a variation of Options 1 and 2 that would involve a significant visual and physical barrier separating the city. Local traffic on Scott Avenue could be affected by the prioritization of I-5 access.

Option 8 - Scott Ave Full Diamond with Realignment. A combination of elevated overpasses and on/off ramps, this is a variation of Option 7 and also Option 3. Again, the property for this option may be prohibitively expensive for the potential benefit it provides.

Option 9 - Scott Ave Direct Flyovers. Direct on and off ramps elevated over I-5 and accessing I-5 with new ramps this option would have less severe visual and physical impacts to the community and prioritizes I-5 access over a reconnection of Scott Avenue.

Option 10 -  Scott Ave Realignment with Direct Flyovers. This combination of overpasses and new ramps is a variation of Option 9 and also Option 4. Property acquisition would be expensive and would involve rerouting Lewis River Road (SR-503). The study does not appear to have considered that an additional roundabout would be needed at Lewis River Road and N Goerig where the flood-wall is located. This represents some significant additional costs were not fully factored in when this to this option was visualized. Changes to the flood-wall would require approval by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Option 11 - Slip Ramps. This option envisioned that additional on-ramps could be added to I-5. 

Option 12 - Collector Distributors. This option re-imagined the north-south flow of traffic within the city to reroute traffic away from Exit 21 and onto Scott Avenue.

Option 13 - Lewis River Road Intersection. Essentially this option is a redesign of Exit 21.

Option 14 - Lewis River Road Roundabout. Essentially this option is a redesign of Exit 21 with a roundabout.

Option 15 - Lewis River Road added lane. Essentially this option is a redesign of Exit 21 with more lanes passing under I-5.

Option 16 - Pacific  Avenue & Lewis River Road Intersections. Essentially this option is a redesign of Exit 21 with improvements on both the East and West side.

Option 17 - Lewis River Road Parclo. Essentially this option is a redesign of Exit 21 with partial cloverleafs and surface street re-routing.  This option would require significant business and property acquisition.

No additional studies for the reconnect project have been funded or are pending. This page is for informational purposes only and is a combination of option summaries and opinion from the current planning staff. For more information on planned Exit 21 improvements, please see the City of Woodland - Exit 21 project page.