Washington State Route 155
Encyclopedia
State Route 155 is a state highway
in the U.S. state
of Washington, running from U.S. Route 2 in Fordair over Disautel Pass
to U.S. Route 97 and State Route 20
in the city of Omak
. It is the main north–south route through the area around Grand Coulee Dam
.
. From there, the highway heads north, paralleling the shore of Banks Lake
for much of the southern part of the route. After passing Steamboat Rock State Park
, it crosses over Osborn Bay Lake before passing through Electric City
. It then intersects State Route 174 in Grand Coulee
. The highway then heads northeast, crossing the Columbia River
just north of the Grand Coulee Dam
.
On the north side of the Columbia, State Route 155 turns west and traverses the Colville Indian Reservation
, passing through the communities of Nepselem and Disautel
, crossing Disautel Pass
at an elevation of 3252 feet (991.2 m). As the highway descends from the pass, it approaches the town of Omak
on Omak Avenue. On the east side of the town, it crosses under the four-lane carriageway of U.S. Route 97 and State Route 20. Since there is no access immediately at this underpass, State Route 155 continues three blocks west before turning south along Dayton Street to access U.S. Route 97.
At the intersection of Omak Avenue and Dayton Street, a spur route of State Route 155 begins and continues west along Omak Avenue to terminate at State Route 215 in downtown Omak. This was the original alignment of State Route 155 before U.S. Route 97 was realigned onto its current bypass. State Route 155 Spur is 0.37 mile (0.5954558 km) long.
on what is now State Route 215, rather than on its easterly bypass as it does today. Thus, State Route 155 continued west on what is now State Route 155 Spur to terminate at U.S. Route 97 in downtown Omak. When the US 97 bypass was built a few years later, State Route 155 was rerouted onto its current alignment.
Prior to the 1964 highway renumbering, the section of State Route 155 from Coulee City to the Grand Coulee Dam was numbered Secondary State Highway 2F. From Grand Coulee to Omak, it was numbered Secondary State Highway 10F.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
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, running from U.S. Route 2 in Fordair over Disautel Pass
Disautel Pass
Disautel Pass is a mountain pass in the state of Washington.It is traversed by State Route 155 between Grand Coulee and Omak, and is located on the Colville Indian Reservation about 12 miles Northwest of Colville Indian Agency....
to U.S. Route 97 and State Route 20
State Route 20 (Washington)
State Route 20, also known alternately as the North-Cross Highway, SR 20 or the North Cascades Highway, is a State Highway in the State of Washington. It travels from an intersection with U.S. Route 101 at Discovery Bay near Port Townsend to Newport at a junction with U.S. Route 2 about 400 feet ...
in the city of Omak
Omak, Washington
Omak is the largest city in Okanogan County, Washington, United States. The population was 4,721 at the 2010 census. It is just south of the Canadian border where more populated cities are located ....
. It is the main north–south route through the area around Grand Coulee Dam
Grand Coulee Dam
Grand Coulee Dam is a gravity dam on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington built to produce hydroelectric power and provide irrigation. It was constructed between 1933 and 1942, originally with two power plants. A third power station was completed in 1974 to increase its energy...
.
Route description
State Route 155 begins at in intersection with U.S. Route 2 in Fordair, just northeast of Coulee CityCoulee City, Washington
Coulee City is a town in Grant County, Washington, United States. The population was 600 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Coulee City is located at ....
. From there, the highway heads north, paralleling the shore of Banks Lake
Banks Lake
Banks Lake is a long reservoir in central Washington in the United States.Part of the Columbia Basin Project, Banks Lake occupies the northern portion of the Grand Coulee, a formerly dry coulee near the Columbia River, formed by the Missoula Floods during the Pleistocene epoch. Grand Coulee Dam,...
for much of the southern part of the route. After passing Steamboat Rock State Park
Steamboat Rock State Park
Steamboat Rock State Park is a state park in the state of Washington in the United States. It is located near the north end of Banks Lake in the Grand Coulee. It covers , has of freshwater shoreline, and is open year-round for camping and day use...
, it crosses over Osborn Bay Lake before passing through Electric City
Electric City, Washington
Electric City is a town in Grant County, Washington, United States. The population was 922 at the 2000 census. The community was named for its proximity to the power source at Grand Coulee Dam.-Geography:Electric City is located at ....
. It then intersects State Route 174 in Grand Coulee
Grand Coulee, Washington
Grand Coulee is a city in Grant County, Washington, United States. The population was 897 at the 2000 census.-History:Grand Coulee was officially incorporated on November 6, 1935...
. The highway then heads northeast, crossing the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
just north of the Grand Coulee Dam
Grand Coulee Dam
Grand Coulee Dam is a gravity dam on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington built to produce hydroelectric power and provide irrigation. It was constructed between 1933 and 1942, originally with two power plants. A third power station was completed in 1974 to increase its energy...
.
On the north side of the Columbia, State Route 155 turns west and traverses the Colville Indian Reservation
Colville Indian Reservation
The Colville Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation in the north-central part of the U.S. state of Washington, inhabited and managed by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, which is recognized by the United States of America as an American Indian Tribe...
, passing through the communities of Nepselem and Disautel
Disautel, Washington
Disautel was a logging town in Okanogan County . Established around 1919, the community was located about 15 miles east of present-day Omak, Washington along what is now Highway 155, on the south side of Omak Creek. With a population of only about 100 people in 1929, the Biles-Coleman logging...
, crossing Disautel Pass
Disautel Pass
Disautel Pass is a mountain pass in the state of Washington.It is traversed by State Route 155 between Grand Coulee and Omak, and is located on the Colville Indian Reservation about 12 miles Northwest of Colville Indian Agency....
at an elevation of 3252 feet (991.2 m). As the highway descends from the pass, it approaches the town of Omak
Omak, Washington
Omak is the largest city in Okanogan County, Washington, United States. The population was 4,721 at the 2010 census. It is just south of the Canadian border where more populated cities are located ....
on Omak Avenue. On the east side of the town, it crosses under the four-lane carriageway of U.S. Route 97 and State Route 20. Since there is no access immediately at this underpass, State Route 155 continues three blocks west before turning south along Dayton Street to access U.S. Route 97.
At the intersection of Omak Avenue and Dayton Street, a spur route of State Route 155 begins and continues west along Omak Avenue to terminate at State Route 215 in downtown Omak. This was the original alignment of State Route 155 before U.S. Route 97 was realigned onto its current bypass. State Route 155 Spur is 0.37 mile (0.5954558 km) long.
History
When State Route 155 was first established in 1964, U.S. Route 97 passed through downtown Omak and OkanoganOkanogan, Washington
Okanogan is a town in Okanogan County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,552 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Okanogan County.It has a small commuter airfield, Okanogan Legion Airport - with one paved runway of in length....
on what is now State Route 215, rather than on its easterly bypass as it does today. Thus, State Route 155 continued west on what is now State Route 155 Spur to terminate at U.S. Route 97 in downtown Omak. When the US 97 bypass was built a few years later, State Route 155 was rerouted onto its current alignment.
Prior to the 1964 highway renumbering, the section of State Route 155 from Coulee City to the Grand Coulee Dam was numbered Secondary State Highway 2F. From Grand Coulee to Omak, it was numbered Secondary State Highway 10F.