The City of Centralia’s Public Works Department last week announced construction is nearing completion on the new road — Art Lehmann Drive — connecting the Interstate 5 Mellen Street overpass and the South Yew Street extension at the site of the coming Centralia Station development.
On Wednesday, Dec. 20, traffic revisions will take place on South Yew Street, and the new road south of Alder Street will be open under temporary traffic control conditions.
The current connection between Long Road and the new section of South Yew Street will be permanently closed to traffic, according to a news release from the city.
Then, on Thursday, Dec. 21, the eastbound direction of Art Lehmann Drive between the Mellen Street overpass and South Yew Street will be open under temporary traffic control conditions.
“The westbound direction will remain closed at this time,” the release stated.
In January, the last traffic signals will be installed and the area’s final configuration will be open.
“Please use caution when driving through this area and adhere to the traffic control signs,” the release stated.
Centralia Station is a Port of Centralia project developing a shopping center complex featuring WinCo — a 24 hours a day warehouse-style supermarket chain that sells bulk food items — as the anchor tenant.
The project is being carried out in three phases, with the first two revolving around the construction of the South Yew Street extension and then Art Lehmann Drive, connecting South Yew Street to the I-5 Mellen Street overpass.
Once the first two phases are complete, WinCo will carry out the final phase, construction of the supermarket and shopping complex. No exact date for a groundbreaking has been announced.
