Paving of Wenatchee Heights Road phase 2 project nearing completion

WENATCHEE - The second phase of the Wenatchee Heights Road improvement project is nearing completion as paving continues this week. The contractor began paving last week and expects to finish on Tuesday, according to Chelan County Public Works.

The project, which began on April 8, is rehabilitating a 0.78-mile stretch of the roadway from milepost 1.32 near Wheeler Hill Road to milepost 2.10 at Edgemont Drive. The primary purpose of the project is to improve the roadway while making several safety improvements, such as upgrading guardrails to current standards.

Once paving is complete, work will focus on re-installing guardrails for the remainder of the week. Next week, crews will begin striping the roadway, a sign that the end of the project is near.

During construction, most of the work zone has been closed, with a detour in place via Wheeler Hill Road. Motorists heading down Wenatchee Heights Road should plan for one-way flagger control and a pilot car for the section between Wheeler Hill and Edgemont Drive. The posted speed limit within the construction limits has been temporarily reduced to 25 mph during construction.

The closure in the work zone has allowed the contractor to complete the work in just 25 working days, with completion planned for early May 2024. Motorists should plan for minor delays.

The project is funded primarily by a $1.37 million state grant from the Rural Arterial Program, with some county road funds also being used.

This is the second phase of the Wenatchee Heights Road improvement project. In 2020, Chelan County Public Works completed the first phase, which rehabilitated a 1.32-mile stretch of the roadway from Squilchuck Road to about 1,000 feet north of Wheeler Hill Road.

When completed, Wenatchee Heights Road, which is used by homeowners, orchardists, and fruit haulers, will have just over two miles of rehabilitated roadway that meets current standards.