WASHINGTON, D.C. — Funds to continue work on the next phase of widening
U.S. Highway 12 have been included in a Senate appropriations bill.
In
a release, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said $1 million for the
project have been included in the 2011 Transportation, Housing, and
Urban Development appropriations bill.
The bill passed through
the THUD Appropriations Subcommittee on Wednesday and will now move to
the full Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration.
If
approved, the money will be used to support right-of-way acquisition for
the next phase of the project, phase 7a, to widen the highway. The
latest phase from the west edge of Walla Walla to the vicinity of
Frenchtown, was opened to traffic this month.
In the release,
Paul Schneidmiller, Port of Walla Walla commission president, said
Murray has been an effective advocate “for a project that is of such
critical regional and statewide importance.”
“The four-laning of
U.S. Highway 12 is a clear Walla Walla Valley regional priority and we
can’t thank Sen. Murray enough for her tireless support of this crucial
safety project,” he said.
– Walla Walla Union-Bulletin
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