Clark County outlines Del Fell Road realignment with two‑lane roundabout, centralized stormwater plan

Clark County Public Works presented plans to realign Del Fell Road and build a two‑lane roundabout at the 170 Ninth Street interchange during a public meeting, saying construction is scheduled to begin in 2029 and the project is currently estimated at about $12,000,000.

County staff said the design replaces the existing signalized intersection with a multilane roundabout intended to improve day‑to‑day operations and safety, provide better multimodal access for walking and biking, and accommodate future traffic growth in the corridor. The plan also envisions a centralized stormwater facility east of 15th Avenue to collect runoff from this and adjacent projects.

“The roundabout did come out as the preferable option to say a signalized intersection,” said Bridal, a project manager with Clark County Public Works, describing the alternatives analysis. Bridal said the design supports two lanes in each direction at the interchange and that the roundabout was chosen for safety and capacity reasons.

Scott Sawyer, the project’s outgoing project manager, told residents the county is coordinating closely with the Washington State Department of Transportation on an interchange rework on I‑5 that is scheduled for 2028 and could affect phasing. “We anticipate that there might be some crossover,” Bridal said of the two projects. Sawyer estimated the county’s portion of the Del Fell realignment at “right around $12,000,000.”

Staff said environmental constraints — especially timed “in‑water work windows” to protect fish habitat — create scheduling limits for culvert and bridge work. The plan calls for two culverts that must meet environmental standards for fish‑bearing streams; Bridal said the design is not required to be fully fish‑passable for spawning but must allow fish presence. County staff said the biological assessment and permitting process is expected to extend through 2027.

Construction sequencing and event traffic at the nearby amphitheater are key operational considerations. Staff said the roundabout will handle typical daily traffic and reduce the need for manual traffic control, but large events will still require manual traffic management to avoid queuing on the freeway. Bridal described preliminary traffic splits — drawn from historical event data — and said those percentages may shift as the area develops.

Access changes are planned for the Chevron fuel station and adjacent RV park. The county said it will eliminate the existing access point closest to the roundabout and provide a new connection to the north; that new access will have full access onto Del Fell (left and right turns) while other connections on 179 will be limited to right‑in/right‑out. Staff said those changes were made to improve safety as traffic volumes increase.

Other design details disclosed at the meeting include a precast concrete sound wall behind the RV park expected to range from about 9 to 16 feet in height, a profile change to flatten approaches over Whipple Creek with a bridge at that crossing, and a centralized stormwater facility intended to serve Del Fell, 15th Avenue and nearby segments. County staff said the project footprint and some property acquisitions are still being finalized.

Jeremy, the county engineer, said routine maintenance concerns raised by residents — potholes and faded striping — will be passed to the preservation/maintenance team for near‑term attention. Bridal and other staff said final design is expected to be complete by late 2027 or 2028, with advertisement and construction activity beginning in 2029, subject to permits and coordination with WSDOT.

Residents asked about tree removal, wildlife impacts and potential overlap with WSDOT work. Staff said tree counts are not finalized because designs remain in progress, that the roadway grade changes and additional bridges are intended to improve hydrology and wildlife passage, and that close coordination with WSDOT is ongoing to avoid major conflicts during construction.

County staff closed the presentation by providing contact information for the project team and encouraging ongoing questions from the community. Bridal will serve as the primary contact going forward, with Sawyer available to support the transition.