Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Tri-Cities, Washington is in the midst of an economic boom after getting nearly $2 billion in federal stimulus spending.

But that money has a downside -- gridlock on the roads. Officials at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation have a new plan to deal with the worsening traffic. Anna King reports.

In the early morning and late afternoon most everyone in Richland is headed in one direction – to or away from Hanford.

Since federal stimulus money started flowing into nuclear waste cleanup, traffic safety has become a big concern.

How do Hanford managers plan to make it better? Make a main road to Hanford one way in the afternoon rush hour, raise the speed limit on certain roads and build safety turn-outs along major byways.

Stewart Mackay works for a Hanford contractor. He says even major road work in the last 20 years hasn't helped.

Stewart Mackay: "...kind of surprising, the traffic problems have got significantly worse even though the roads have got a lot better." Hanford officials say they expect the peak of stimulus hiring to occur late this summer or in early fall.