Washington State Route 170
Encyclopedia
State Route 170 is a short, 3.68 miles (5.92 km) long state highway
located within Grant County in the U.S. state
of Washington. The highway begins at west of Warden
and travels east to end at Main Street in Warden. The current route of the highway was first established in 1967 as (SSH 11I) and became SR 170 in 1970 after it was moved north of its previous route, which had been on maps since 1926, named in 1937 and renumbered to SR 170 in 1964. The old route ran from the Columbia River
southwest of Basin City
to SR 17 north of Mesa
.
and south of the SR 17 and intersection. From SR 17, the highway travels east to cross two pairs of railroad tracks owned by Columbia Basin Railroad, which go south to Connell
and north to Moses Lake
, to enter Warden. Once the roadway enters Warden, it is named 1st Street and later ends at Main Street. The busiest segment of the road in terms of vehicle counts was between SR 17 and Warden, with a daily average of 2,800 motorists in 2007; the busiest segment in 1970 was at Main Street, with a daily average of 2,100 motorists.
while the eastern crossing was operated by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
in 1963. By 1981, BNSF Railway
owned both crossings and as of 2009, the Columbia Basin Railroad operates both.
State highways in Washington
In the U.S. state of Washington, the Washington State Department of Transportation maintains a network of over 7000 miles of state highways, including all Interstate and U.S. Highways that pass through the state. The system comprises 8.5% of the state's public road mileage, but carries over half...
located within Grant County 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. The highway begins at west of Warden
Warden, Washington
Warden is a city in Grant County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,544 at the 2000 census.-History:The Central Basin plateau was settled in the late 1800s by immigrants of Russian-German ancestry who homesteaded in the area and farmed dryland wheat...
and travels east to end at Main Street in Warden. The current route of the highway was first established in 1967 as (SSH 11I) and became SR 170 in 1970 after it was moved north of its previous route, which had been on maps since 1926, named in 1937 and renumbered to SR 170 in 1964. The old route ran from 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...
southwest of Basin City
Basin City, Washington
Basin City is a census-designated place in Franklin County, Washington, United States. The population was 968 at the 2000 census.-History:...
to SR 17 north of Mesa
Mesa, Washington
Mesa is a city in Franklin County, Washington, United States. The population was 489 at the 2010 census.-History:Originally called Bluff Wells, then Judson, now Mesa was a stop on the Ainsworth to Spokane branch of the Northern Pacific Railroad. It was the stop between Eltopia and Palouse Junction...
.
Route description
State Route 170 (SR 170) begins at west of WardenWarden, Washington
Warden is a city in Grant County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,544 at the 2000 census.-History:The Central Basin plateau was settled in the late 1800s by immigrants of Russian-German ancestry who homesteaded in the area and farmed dryland wheat...
and south of the SR 17 and intersection. From SR 17, the highway travels east to cross two pairs of railroad tracks owned by Columbia Basin Railroad, which go south to Connell
Connell, Washington
Connell is a city in Franklin County, Washington, United States. The population was 4,209 at the 2010 census. The Washington State Office of Financial Management's 2011 estimate placed the population at 5,150.-History:...
and north to Moses Lake
Moses Lake, Washington
Moses Lake is a city in Grant County, Washington, United States. The population was 20,366 as of the 2010 census. Moses Lake is the largest city in Grant County.-Background:...
, to enter Warden. Once the roadway enters Warden, it is named 1st Street and later ends at Main Street. The busiest segment of the road in terms of vehicle counts was between SR 17 and Warden, with a daily average of 2,800 motorists in 2007; the busiest segment in 1970 was at Main Street, with a daily average of 2,100 motorists.
History
In 1967, was established on a short route near Warden. The highway became SR 170 in 1970 after it was moved from another route located southwest of Warden. The western railroad crossing was first operated by Northern Pacific RailwayNorthern Pacific Railway
The Northern Pacific Railway was a railway that operated in the west along the Canadian border of the United States. Construction began in 1870 and the main line opened all the way from the Great Lakes to the Pacific when former president Ulysses S. Grant drove in the final "golden spike" in...
while the eastern crossing was operated by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
The Milwaukee Road, officially the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad , was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwest and Northwest of the United States from 1847 until its merger into the Soo Line Railroad on January 1, 1986. The company went through several official names...
in 1963. By 1981, BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
owned both crossings and as of 2009, the Columbia Basin Railroad operates both.
Major intersections
The highway is located entirely within Grant County.| Location | Mile | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.00 | Western terminus; continues west as Road 8 Southeast | ||
| Warden Warden, Washington Warden is a city in Grant County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,544 at the 2000 census.-History:The Central Basin plateau was settled in the late 1800s by immigrants of Russian-German ancestry who homesteaded in the area and farmed dryland wheat... |
3.68 | South Main Street | Eastern terminus; continues east as 1st Street |