Construction to begin on Reata Road roundabout

The city of Richland announced plans to build a roundabout at the intersection of Reata Road with the future Gage Boulevard extension. While the roads don’t currently meet, the roundabout will be where Gage is expected to eventually connect with Reata.

The roundabout will provide an additional access point to the South Orchard community currently being developed.  

The project will include building the roundabout, installing sidewalks and crossings on the northern side, widening of Reata Road, utility installation, water main relocation, and putting in new streetlights, asphalt paving, striping and signs. 

Construction was expected to begin in late February or early March and is projected to end in June. Starting around mid- to late April, construction will shift to the roadway, and a full closure and detour will be in place from Southgate Way to Badger View Drive, using Sagebrush Drive and Bermuda Road to the south of the project. 

The contractor will work with residences within the work zone to maintain access to their properties while the detour is in place. 

Go to: richlandwa.gov/GageReataRoundabout.

Urgent care clinic moves into former flower shop

An urgent care clinic which already has two locations in the Tri-Cities plans to move into the former Shelby’s Floral building at 5211 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick. 

Building permits have been issued to Health First Urgent Care for tenant improvements, including an occupancy change from mercantile to business and changing the interior layout. The permit for this work is valued at $886,000 for the 4,431-square-foot space, and separate permits have been filed for mechanical and plumbing work. G2 Construction is listed as the contractor. 

Health First Urgent Care has a location in Richland at 37 Columbia Point Drive, and in Pasco at 4605 N. Road 68. 

Shelby’s Floral left its old building to move into its current location at 6018 W. Clearwater Ave. in August 2024.

Richland library launches outdoor space

The Richland Public Library has opened a new multiuse outdoor space.

Called The Lawn, the new outdoor gathering space at 955 Northgate Drive is designed to extend library programming outside of the building. The space features outdoor lawn games for kids and families, tables and seating, and power access and Wi-Fi, supporting a variety of activities, from library events to a study space. 

“The Lawn creates new opportunities for the Richland Public Library to bring people together in meaningful ways,” said Chris Nulph, library manager, in a statement. “This space allows us to offer programs that encourage learning, creativity, and community connection in an open, accessible outdoor setting.” 

A ribbon cutting for the space was held March 7.

New gas station planned in West Richland 

A Friends Corner gas station and store is setting up shop in West Richland. 

The nearly 4,000-square-foot store with a drive-thru is planned for 4289 W. Van Giesen St., West Richland, and a permit issued by the city puts the project cost at $2.5 million. 

Owner Sandeep Joshi told the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business that the gas station is planned to open by the end of May or June, and it will include a Lifeline Coffee shop.  

The West Richland location will join four other Friends Corner gas stations in the Tri-Cities: one off of Dallas Road in Richland; one on Steptoe Street in Kennewick; one off of Argent Road in Pasco; and one in Burbank.

Army Corps to streamline hydropower, navigation improvements

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Walla Walla District is accelerating key hydropower and navigation infrastructure projects under the Army Civil Works’ “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork” initiative. 

The program aims to prioritize high-impact projects, reduce bureaucratic delays and enable faster, cost-effective delivery of critical water resources infrastructure.

Major efforts include the Dworshak Dam unit 4 installation, which strengthens hydropower reliability in Idaho and the region, and contracting strategies for cranes and main-unit transformers to reduce delays and improve procurement processes.

A coordinated 2030 navigation lock outage along the Columbia and Snake rivers aims to integrate multiple upgrades efficiently, minimizing commercial disruptions while maximizing return on investment. 

The Walla Walla District manages federal water infrastructure across southeastern Washington, northeastern Oregon and Idaho.

Next phase of Steptoe construction has begun

If you use the Steptoe Street corridor for your daily commute, be prepared for the next phase of lane closures, reduced speeds and traffic revisions. 

Crews are actively working on the east side of Steptoe Street near the intersection with Tapteal Drive, which is temporarily closed, according to the city of Richland. 

Tapteal Drive traffic is directed to use the Center Parkway or Columbia Center Boulevard intersections for access. 

Drivers should be prepared for delays, especially during morning and evening commutes, and may want to find alternate routes. 

A private developer is financing and conducting the roadwork to provide road access to commercial property on the west side of Steptoe Street. In the end, the project will realign Tapteal Drive to intersect Steptoe Street further south at the railroad crossing, providing new traffic signaling and pedestrian infrastructure.

Report: More guardrails needed to mitigate data center impacts

A report looking at data center development up and down the Columbia River claims those facilities threaten to derail state energy mandates, inflict environmental harm and grow energy costs for consumers.

The report from environmental group Columbia Riverkeeper details existing and proposed data center projects in 12 counties including Benton and Walla Walla counties in Washington state and Umatilla County in Oregon.

The report notes that while lawmakers in both states have taken steps to rein in data center development, more needs to be done, such as requiring transparency on how the facilities use water and power. Columbia Riverkeeper also pressed for ensuring that tribal governments and local communities have input on any proposed facilities.

Builders launch campaign to encourage fed transportation spending

One of the nation’s largest contractor organizations is launching a campaign to encourage federal lawmakers to boost spending on transportation projects to grow the economy while also creating demand for construction jobs. 

Called America’s Moving Forward, the campaign comes as officials with the Associated General Contractors of America say there are growing indications that Congress may not draft, debate and pass the next transportation bill, known as the Surface Transportation Bill, before the current law expires at the end of September. 

“Improving highways and transportation systems makes it easier for companies to thrive and expand by lowering shipping costs, accelerating deliveries and connecting firms to clients and investors,” said Ken Simonson, the chief economist of the Associated General Contractors of America. “But without a long-term transportation bill in place, it is hard to see how most areas will be able to sustain the kind of job growth they have experienced since 2020.” 

Ten of the nation’s 15 largest metro areas added construction jobs between December 2020 and December 2025, with Simonson noting those areas also have the most significant investments being made by federal and state agencies to improve transportation networks. Those projects do more than benefit the companies building them – good transportation connections contribute to the siting of new projects and efficient shipping routes. 

The association plans to invest up to $2 million in the campaign, which is already running ads in several states.  

“While this is a big investment for an association like ours, it is a small price to pay to ensure continued economic growth in America’s communities,” the economist said

Researchers reimagine construction with living materials

Researchers at the University of Washington are using engineered living materials to rethink how buildings are made and how they perform in a changing climate.

Scientists are embedding organisms like fungus and bacteria into building materials so they will provide structure while also doing things like capturing carbon or filtering wastewater.

Alshakim Nelson, professor of chemistry at the University of Washington, said construction is responsible for about 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions and the goal is to create renewable replacements.

“We potentially could have a building that would be producing its own anticorrosive coatings,” Nelson said. “Or could actually capture CO2 instead of emit CO2, could potentially self-heal, all due to the actions of the microorganisms that reside within these materials.”

Students at the university are showing how they are using 3D printing with water-based resin to scale up this technology at a public exhibition this month called Engineered Living Materials for the Built Environment. Among the projects are living walls, which can consume waste oil to create biofuels or generate heat for buildings.

Nelson pointed out as humans, we already have relationships with many helpful microorganisms like bacteria and fungi. He added the research is taking those relationships to the next level and hopes visitors to the gallery will find more than just inspiration.

“Maybe even come up with some of their own ideas of what could be done if we integrate these types of organisms into the built environment,” Nelson said.

Along with work from the University of Washington, the exhibit also features research from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of California-Davis.

– Public News Service.