The City of Ridgefield is seeking qualifications from highly qualified firms to conduct a planning study to complete an alternatives analysis and select a preferred alternative for the Ridgefield/I-5 South Connector Project (known as Stage 2) through federal funding. Stage 1, development and assessment of alternatives was completed in 2021. Stage 2 will refresh information for the alternatives collected during Stage 1, and advance the analysis to reach a preferred alternative decision, expected to be a joint decision by the Ridgefield City Council and Clark County Council. In addition to selecting the preferred alternative, work will include planning level (Tier I) NEPA and SEPA documents for the preferred alternative. The planning work will include developing a scope and budget for succeeding phases as well as capital cost estimates for Capital Facilities planning. A preliminary footprint design will be produced for the environmental analysis to support the preferred alternative selection and be useful for the Area of Potential Effect (APE) which will be developed in a future stage including the NEPA/SEPA environmental documentation and clearance. The City will seek other funding sources to complete the environmental clearance process, design and permits, right-of-way (ROW) and construction which will be future, separate procurements. This stage of the project will also include how the existing I-5 at SR 502 (219th Street) Interchange will be modified. The process will involve WSDOT Local Programs, WSDOT Traffic, Design and Planning and Clark County Public Works and Transportation Planning and shall comply with the Local Agency Guidelines (LAG) Manual. The I-5 Ridgefield South Connector would connect a confluence of two major state highways (I-5 and SR 502) with Ridgefield's main north-south transportation corridor, Hillhurst Road, near NW 229th Street. Most of the corridor would be located in unincorporated Clark County. The benefits of the project include relief at the City's currently sole interchange on I-5 (Pioneer Street/ SR 501) as well as the county's major interchange at I-5 and 179th Street, which also serves the adjacent Clark County Fairgrounds, RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater and the west emergency services facility, which is staffed by both Clark County Fire District 6 as well as Clark Cowlitz Fire Rescue. There are currently only two interchanges serving west Clark County while three (including the SR 502/I-5 interchange) serve eastern and northern Clark County. There is no east-west corridor connecting the Battle Ground/SR 502 corridor to west Clark County and south Ridgefield.
