Long-awaited SR 500 St. Johns
freeway interchange gets exposure

Plans for the nearly $50 million SR 500, St. Johns Interchange project, scheduled to begin in the summer of 2010, will be shared with the general public during a state Department of Transportation open house from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, in Washington Elementary School, 2908 S Street.

East-west Highway 500 connects Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 and is a connection to Highway 503 to Battle Ground.

The project is a freeway-style interchange replacing the existing signalized intersection.

Displays of the project plans will be available, but no formal presentations will take place. WSDOT representatives will be available to both answer questions and receive public feedback on project-related concerns and suggestions.

The St. Johns Boulevard intersection is one of several intersections on SR 500 between I-5 and Andresen Road where accident rates are approximately 30 to 50 percent above the statewide average for intersections. In the next 20 years, the average daily traffic volumes on SR 500 are expected to increase by up to 30 percent and traffic on intersecting roads are expected to increase by up to 200 percent.

Since 1996, the state highway department has completed three interchanges on Highway 500, Andresen Road, Thurston Way-Vancouver Mall and NE 112th-Gher Road. The only traffic signal crossings that will remain on that portion of Highway 500 are at Falk Road and at Stapleton Road.

For further information, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/SR500/StJohnsInterchange/ or call the WSDOT Vancouver Area Engineering Office, 905-1500.

BergerABAM hires Sally Fisher

Sally Fisher has joined BergerABAM as project manager/environmental scientist.  Fisher will continue to expand the environmental services of the firm in the southwest Washington area as well as in the Puget Sound region.

With 27 years of experience, Fisher recently spent time as senior environmental scientist for a local engineering firm; and, prior to that, she spent 18 years with a leading geotechnical firm.

Fisher worked on numerous projects for state and federal agencies and local ports, including extensive work at the Port of Tacoma. Other projects she has worked on are the Port of Portland’s Terminal 6 dredging, the U.S. Coast Guard’s Piers 36 and 37 rebuild, and the Port of Tacoma’s Lincoln Avenue grade separation.

Tommy O Restaurants giving to
Children's Center all day tomorrow

Fifteen percent of all sales tomorrow, May 28, at both Tommy O's restaurant locations will be donated directly to Children's Center, a therapy center in Vancouver providing mental health therapy for children and their families.

For reservations at Tommy O's Pacific Rim Grill, 4101 SE 192nd Avenue, call 892-2484. For reservations at Tommy O's Pacific Rim Bistro, 801 Washington Street, call 694-5107.

Piano Hospital sets 60th
anniversary celebration

An open house from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 24 will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Piano Hospital.

Executive director Len Ledger says everyone is invited to the open house. The Piano Hospital is also known as The School of Piano Technology for the Blind.

People

Alex Reinhold, Battle Ground deputy mayor, today announced that he will be seeking reelection to the city council. Reinhold, a 2004 Battle Ground First Citizen, says he has never accepted donations for his campaign and will not accept them this year. Filing for political office in Clark County is the week of June 1.

Calendar

Port of Camas-Washougal commissioners are holding an open house, to gain community feedback on development of the proposed East Industrial Park, from 4 to 6 p.m. today, in port offices at 24 S A Street, Washougal. <> Nelson Holmberg opens his campaign for a position on the Vancouver School District board with a picnic from 5 to 6:30 p.m. today, in Leverich Park, at 39th and M Streets. <> The Southwest Washington Blood Program is holding a blood drive from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, May 28, in Skyview High School, 1300 NW 139th Avenue. 

Community Calendar Links

• Southwest Washington Center for the Arts

• Greater Vancouver Chamber

• City of Vancouver Calendar