Updated: June 29, 2026

Upcoming Open Houses

The project team will hold two open houses for the project, where there will be additional opportunities for members of the public to ask questions and submit comments. The project team will also be sharing an early draft of the interchange design.

July 16, 2026 Open House
• When: 5-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 16
• Where: Green Park Elementary School Library, 1105 E. Isaacs Ave., Walla Walla
• Format: Drop-in style event with staff stationed at information stations/displays to explain materials, answer questions and listen to feedback
• Online: The open house content, along with opportunities to provide feedback, will also be available on the project webpage July 16-30. Visit gowallawalla.us/current-projects/us12-clinton to participate.

Project Overview

The City, County, and Port of Walla Walla are working together to improve the intersection of Highway 12 and North Clinton Street, enhancing safety and improving connectivity for all modes of travel. The project builds on a concept design from a previous transportation study of a grade-separated diamond overpass interchange and related improvements along Clinton Street, Middle Waitsburg Road, and Lower Waitsburg Road. In addition to the interchange, upgraded lighting and street improvements will better accommodate people biking, walking, driving, and using mobility devices. The new interchange will provide a direct north–south connection across Highway 12 at Clinton Street as well as improve freight efficiency, adjacent Highway 12 interchange function, and support future growth and economic opportunities.

Background

In 2016, WSDOT restricted access at the Clinton Street/Highway 12 intersection due to safety concerns, eliminating the Clinton Street through and left-turn movements. While vehicle safety has improved, the intersection remains a barrier for pedestrians and cyclists and forces drivers accessing residences and jobs north of Highway 12 to detour using local streets. This project will provide a safe pedestrian and bicycle crossing, restore full motor vehicle access to reduce cut-through traffic on local streets, and maintain efficient freight operations on Highway 12. 

A partnership between the City, County, Port of Walla Walla, and WSDOT resulted in the Highway 12/Clinton/Wilbur Feasibility Transportation Study, which was completed in January of 2020. This study identified strategies to improve multimodal connectivity, address safety concerns, and alleviate congestion. It also identified short- and long-term solutions to support future land use and growth north of the Highway 12 corridor, particularly near the North Clinton Street intersection. Based on the results of this study, the partnering agencies agreed to pursue building a tight-diamond interchange as the desired long-term solution for the Highway 12/Clinton Street intersection.

Following completion of the study, the Port of Walla Walla secured $6 million in federal Community Project Funding in 2024 to advance the Highway 12 and Clinton Interchange Project. These funds will support final design, construction documents, permitting, and right-of-way acquisition. Construction will proceed upon securing the remaining funding necessary to complete the project.

Timeline

Community Feedback

In the winter and spring of 2026, the project team asked for feedback from the community via an online survey and comment map, which were shared on the City’s Facebook page. The team wanted to collect early input from the public and nearby property owners to understand their needs, concerns, and expectations related to the project (i.e. safety, multimodal uses, traffic congestion) and how people use the intersection currently. The project team received a total of 130 comments.

Key feedback themes:

• Support for a grade-separated crossing (including overpass with on/off-ramps).
• Concerns about safety and functionality of proposed overpass.
• Requests to fix ramp length and lane configurations
• Concerns about neighborhood impacts and school-area safety.
• Support for walking and biking connectivity across Highway 12.
• Questions about cost, funding, and schedule
• Requests for supporting improvements in addition to final solution.
• Safety concerns about the general area.