City offers grants to assist businesses impacted by opening of Lewis Street overpass

The Lewis Street overpass in Pasco is officially open, marking the completion of a $36.2 million project that has been years in the making. The overpass connects the central business district with the growing eastern neighborhoods, providing improved accessibility and community connectivity, according to the city.

Stretching from Second Avenue to Oregon Avenue, the overpass features a 625-foot four-span concrete structure over the BNSF Railway yard and a 70-foot single span over First Avenue. In addition, the project includes 3,000 feet of new two-lane urban streets and upgrades to key intersections.

Despite the opening, final touches such as landscaping are still underway and will be completed in the coming months. A formal ribbon-cutting celebration is planned for later in the year.

The original underpass, constructed in 1937, was not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and was functionally obsolete with narrow lanes, low clearance, and poor visibility. The improvements include ADA-compliant sidewalks and bicycle lanes.

The project posed challenges for businesses neighboring the construction site, which began in August 2021. To help offset economic hardships resulting from project-related street closures, the city of Pasco is offering forgivable loans to qualified small microenterprise business owners. The Community Development Block Grant, a federally-funded program through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, is available for businesses within the affected geographical area.

For more information on the forgivable loans program, businesses can call 509-543-5739. Spanish-speaking applicants can contact Maria Serra at 509-543-5738 or email serram@pasco-wa.gov.