Longview advances Columbia Heights Road safety project as design reaches 75 percent

The City of Longview says design is 75 percent complete for the Columbia Heights Road Safety Improvements project, a planned upgrade between Fishers Lane and Cascade Drive.

The city reported the design milestone in August 2026. The project has $2 million in Move Ahead Washington funding and remains in the design phase, meaning construction has not begun.

Planned roadway and pedestrian changes

Plans call for widening Columbia Heights Road to two 11-foot travel lanes. The project also includes a four-foot sidewalk along the corridor, with five-foot passing sections placed every 200 feet to meet accessibility requirements.

Driveway connections would be rebuilt with new Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant approaches. Those changes are intended to improve access between private driveways and the planned pedestrian route.

The Washington State Transportation Improvement Board’s project record also lists guardrail, pavement restoration and LED lighting. Together, the roadway and lighting work is intended to improve safety and ride quality along the project segment.

Drainage work is a central part of the project

The plans would replace open drainage with a closed stormwater conveyance system and add detention capacity. The city identifies drainage, along with safety and accessibility, as a reason for the project.

Replacing the existing drainage arrangement would address water-management infrastructure beneath and alongside the roadway while the project restores pavement and changes the road layout. The planned improvements are designed as one corridor project rather than a standalone sidewalk or lighting installation.

Project status and next steps

The Transportation Improvement Board record identifies design approval dated Feb. 1, 2026. The city’s 75 percent design update is a progress milestone toward final project plans, not an announcement that construction is underway.

The city project page does not list a construction start date or an expected completion date. It also does not announce traffic closures or other construction controls.

For motorists, pedestrians and property owners along Columbia Heights Road, the eventual work would change the roadway between Fishers Lane and Cascade Drive. Drivers would use a widened two-lane road, while people walking would have a planned sidewalk with regular passing areas. Property access would be addressed through ADA-compliant driveway approaches.

The next documented step is continued design work toward final plans. Until construction begins, the project remains a proposed set of roadway, drainage, accessibility and lighting improvements backed by the city’s $2 million funding commitment.