Intersection changes coming to US 97 and SR 14 near Maryhill Aug. 24

Changes improve safety and traffic flow and help keep freight traffic moving

MARYHILL - Travelers who use the US 97 and State Route 14 intersection near Maryhill should plan for single lane closure while crews make improvements along this important freight route through the Columbia Gorge.

Starting Monday, Aug. 24, Washington State Department of Transportation maintenance and traffic crews will modify the US 97 and SR 14 intersections in Klickitat County. Once work is complete at the end of August, these safety enhancements will reduce backups and delays, improve traffic flow and make the intersection safer for freight and all travelers.

To improve safety and reduce backups, crews will remove the stop sign for northbound US 97 traffic and add stop signs for eastbound and westbound SR 14 traffic.

What's changing

SR 14 between mileposts 101.4 and 101.5

• Eastbound and westbound traffic will stop before entering the intersection.
• Eastbound SR 14 traffic turning right onto southbound US 97 will continue using the free-flow right turn.

US 97 between mileposts 1.89 and 2.05

• Northbound traffic will no longer stop before entering the intersection.

What to expect

During construction, flaggers will direct traffic through a single lane on US 97 and SR 14, during the day. Travelers should add extra time to their schedules to accommodate any delays. The road will fully reopen each evening.

In addition to removing the stop sign, crews will also add new pavement markings, signs and warning lights to help guide travelers through the updated intersection.

Currently, all northbound US 97 travelers must stop before entering SR 14. For freight trucks continuing north on US 97, the required stop can cause them to lose the momentum needed to make the uphill climb. Trucks then need more time to regain speed, which can slow traffic and create backups for travelers behind them. These delays can be especially significant during winter weather and peak travel times.

Between 2020 and 2024, 13 crashes occurred at the intersection, including one that caused a serious injury. Three crashes involved semi-trailers traveling northbound on US 97 that were hit from the side while turning left onto westbound SR 14.