Washington State Route 823
Encyclopedia
State Route 823 is a state highway in Yakima County
in the U.S. state
of Washington. It runs for 5 miles (8 km) from a junction with Interstate 82, through the streets of Selah
northward to a junction with State Route 821
, which is also known as Canyon Road and Firing Center Road. Although not signed as such, SR 823 effectively functions as a Business-82 loop through Selah.
State Route 823 begins at Exit 30 from I-82 a short distance southeast of Selah, one mile (1.6 km) north of the junction of U.S. Route 12 and I-82. Exit 30 is the Rest Haven Road/South Selah exit. SR 823 then crosses the Yakima River
and follows Rest Haven Road NNW about 0.9 miles (1.4 km), where its name changes to South Selah Road as it enters the town of Selah. At the southern edge of Selah, the road turns due north and becomes South First Street, the main street of Selah. First Street continues north until the intersection with Naches Avenue at the center of downtown Selah. SR 823 turns right (east) onto East Naches Avenue, continues one-tenth of a mile to the intersection with North Wenas Road, then turns NNE onto North Wenas Road. SR 823 continues 1.2 miles (1.9 km) on North Wenas Road to the junction with Harrison Road, where the highway then turns northeast. SR 823 follows Harrison Road as it runs northeast and then east, re-crosses the Yakima River, and continues to its terminus at State Route 821
, known locally as Firing Center Road to the east and Canyon Road to the north. Firing Center Road is so named because it is the entrance to the Yakima Training Center
, a large U.S. Army
center for weapons training in the hills east of Yakima.
. US 97 ran northward through Yakima, through the center of Selah, and continued north through the Ellensburg Canyon on what is now SR 821. In the 1970s I-82 was constructed east of old US 97 over Manastash Ridge
, bypassing central Selah and Yakima. When I-82 was opened US 97 was rerouted to be concurrent with I-82 between Ellensburg and the Yakima River Valley. This left the old US 97 as a local road. In 1984 the legislature defined the old highway as Route 823 from I-82 Exits 30/30A into downtown Selah. In 1992, SR 823 was redefined northward to the junction with SR 821/Firing Center Road.
is planning improvements and rerouting of SR 823 in Selah to alleviate congestion on the streets of Selah. The new road will be moved from First Avenue a few blocks east to South Wenas Avenue to bypass the direct center of Selah. The new road is planned to begin construction in 2009 and to open in 2011. According to WSDOT:
The Washington State code that was established for the definition of SR 823 contains a clause requiring the sharing of costs for highway improvement between the state and local governments. This clause was added because SR 823 is used chiefly by local traffic within Selah.
Yakima County, Washington
Yakima County is the second largest county by area in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after the Yakama tribe of Native Americans. In the 2010 census, its population was 243,231...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Washington. It runs for 5 miles (8 km) from a junction with Interstate 82, through the streets of Selah
Selah, Washington
Selah is a city in Yakima County, Washington, United States. The population was 7,147 at the 2010 census.-History:Selah was officially incorporated on April 3, 1919. The government is a Strong Mayor/Council form. The Tree Top apple processor co-operative has its headquarters and two processing...
northward to a junction with State Route 821
Washington State Route 821
State Route 821, also known as Canyon Road, is a state highway in Washington. It runs from an intersection with Interstate 82 north of Selah to another junction with I-82 south of Ellensburg. The total length of SR 821 is .-Route description:...
, which is also known as Canyon Road and Firing Center Road. Although not signed as such, SR 823 effectively functions as a Business-82 loop through Selah.
Route description
Yakima River
The Yakima River is a tributary of the Columbia River in south central and eastern Washington State, named for the indigenous Yakama people. The length of the river from headwaters to mouth is , with an average drop of .-Course:...
and follows Rest Haven Road NNW about 0.9 miles (1.4 km), where its name changes to South Selah Road as it enters the town of Selah. At the southern edge of Selah, the road turns due north and becomes South First Street, the main street of Selah. First Street continues north until the intersection with Naches Avenue at the center of downtown Selah. SR 823 turns right (east) onto East Naches Avenue, continues one-tenth of a mile to the intersection with North Wenas Road, then turns NNE onto North Wenas Road. SR 823 continues 1.2 miles (1.9 km) on North Wenas Road to the junction with Harrison Road, where the highway then turns northeast. SR 823 follows Harrison Road as it runs northeast and then east, re-crosses the Yakima River, and continues to its terminus at State Route 821
Washington State Route 821
State Route 821, also known as Canyon Road, is a state highway in Washington. It runs from an intersection with Interstate 82 north of Selah to another junction with I-82 south of Ellensburg. The total length of SR 821 is .-Route description:...
, known locally as Firing Center Road to the east and Canyon Road to the north. Firing Center Road is so named because it is the entrance to the Yakima Training Center
Yakima Training Center
The Yakima Training Center is a United States Army training center located in south central Washington state. It is bounded on the west by Interstate 82, on the south by the city of Yakima, on the north by the city of Ellensburg and Interstate 90, and on the east by the Columbia River...
, a large U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
center for weapons training in the hills east of Yakima.
History
State Route 823 was formerly a section of U.S. Route 97, the major north–south highway in Washington east of the CascadesCascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
. US 97 ran northward through Yakima, through the center of Selah, and continued north through the Ellensburg Canyon on what is now SR 821. In the 1970s I-82 was constructed east of old US 97 over Manastash Ridge
Manastash Ridge
Manastash Ridge is a long anticline mountain ridge located in central Washington state in the United States. Manastash Ridge runs mostly west-to-east in Kittitas and Yakima counties, for approximately 50 miles...
, bypassing central Selah and Yakima. When I-82 was opened US 97 was rerouted to be concurrent with I-82 between Ellensburg and the Yakima River Valley. This left the old US 97 as a local road. In 1984 the legislature defined the old highway as Route 823 from I-82 Exits 30/30A into downtown Selah. In 1992, SR 823 was redefined northward to the junction with SR 821/Firing Center Road.
Planned improvements
As of February 2007, the Washington State Department of TransportationWashington State Department of Transportation
The Washington State Department of Transportation , was established in 1905. The agency, led by a Secretary and overseen by the Governor, is a Washington governmental agency that constructs, maintains, and regulates the use of the state's transportation infrastructure...
is planning improvements and rerouting of SR 823 in Selah to alleviate congestion on the streets of Selah. The new road will be moved from First Avenue a few blocks east to South Wenas Avenue to bypass the direct center of Selah. The new road is planned to begin construction in 2009 and to open in 2011. According to WSDOT:
The Washington State code that was established for the definition of SR 823 contains a clause requiring the sharing of costs for highway improvement between the state and local governments. This clause was added because SR 823 is used chiefly by local traffic within Selah.