Washington State Route 243
Encyclopedia
State Route 243 is a 28.26 miles (45.48 km) long state highway
in the U.S. state
of Washington, located entirely within Grant County and serving Desert Aire
, Mattawa
, Beverly
and Vantage
. The roadway, which roughly parallels the Columbia River
, begins at southwest of Desert Aire and continues north past the Priest Rapids Dam
and Wanapum Dam
to south of Vantage
. The road was established originally as a branch of (SSH 7C) in 1957. In 1964, the SSH 7C branch became SR 243 even though the road between SR 24 and Beverly wasn't complete until 1981.
and north of the Hanford Site
and Vernita Bridge
. From the terminus, the highway travels west and northwest along the Columbia River
to the Priest Rapids Dam
and Desert Aire to turn north past Mattawa
into Beverly
. In Beverly, where it crosses railroad tracks formerly belonging to the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
west of the Beverly Railroad Bridge
. After leaving Beverly, the roadway passes the Wanapum Dam
to end at , south of its interchange with (I-90). The busiest segment of SR 243 in 2007 was between SR 24 and Desert Aire, with a daily average of 4,600; in 1970, the same area was the busiest segment with a daily average of 950.
–SSH 7C portion of the highway was completed; the 1964 highway renumbering renumbered SSH 7C to , the branch to SR 243 and SSH 11A to . SR 24, SR 26 and SR 243 were all partially incomplete until 1981.
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...
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, located entirely within Grant County and serving Desert Aire
Desert Aire, Washington
Desert Aire is a census-designated place in Grant County, Washington, United States. Desert Aire's elevation is The population was 1,124 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Desert Aire is located at ....
, Mattawa
Mattawa, Washington
Mattawa is an incorporated city in Grant County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,609 at the 2000 census. An estimated population exists between 4500-6500 residents during peak fruit picking/agricultural season and subsides by approximately 2000 residents during non-picking...
, Beverly
Beverly, Washington
Beverly, Washington is a small community along the banks of the Columbia River in central Washington state. The community, which consists of a few hundred residents, is just a few miles downriver from Wanapum Dam and is nestled at the base of what locals call Sentinel Gap, a huge basalt formation...
and Vantage
Vantage, Washington
Vantage is a census-designated place in Kittitas County, Washington, United States. The population was 70 at the 2000 census.-History:The area around Vantage has been occupied by the Wanapum Native Americans since prehistory. A number of well-preserved rock-paintings have been found on the cliff...
. The roadway, which roughly parallels 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...
, begins at southwest of Desert Aire and continues north past the Priest Rapids Dam
Priest Rapids Dam
Priest Rapids Dam is a hydroelectric, concrete gravity dam; located on the Columbia River, between the Yakima Firing Range and the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, and bridges Yakima County and Grant County, in the U.S. state of Washington. The dam is 24 miles south of the town of Vantage, and 47 miles...
and Wanapum Dam
Wanapum Dam
Wanapum Dam is a hydroelectric project located on the Columbia River downstream from Vantage, Washington where Interstate 90 crosses the Columbia from Grant County into Kittitas County. It is owned by the Grant County Public Utility District. Its reservoir is named Lake Wanapum.The dam, and its...
to south of Vantage
Vantage, Washington
Vantage is a census-designated place in Kittitas County, Washington, United States. The population was 70 at the 2000 census.-History:The area around Vantage has been occupied by the Wanapum Native Americans since prehistory. A number of well-preserved rock-paintings have been found on the cliff...
. The road was established originally as a branch of (SSH 7C) in 1957. In 1964, the SSH 7C branch became SR 243 even though the road between SR 24 and Beverly wasn't complete until 1981.
Route description
State Route 243 (SR 243) begins at an intersection with southwest of Desert AireDesert Aire, Washington
Desert Aire is a census-designated place in Grant County, Washington, United States. Desert Aire's elevation is The population was 1,124 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Desert Aire is located at ....
and north of the Hanford Site
Hanford Site
The Hanford Site is a mostly decommissioned nuclear production complex on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington, operated by the United States federal government. The site has been known by many names, including Hanford Works, Hanford Engineer Works or HEW, Hanford Nuclear Reservation...
and Vernita Bridge
Vernita Bridge
The Vernita Bridge is a bridge on Washington State Route 24 over the Columbia River between Grant County and Benton County, located approximately south of Desert Aire and Mattawa, Washington. The bridge is in the Hanford Reach National Monument near the Hanford Site.-External links:...
. From the terminus, the highway travels west and northwest along 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...
to the Priest Rapids Dam
Priest Rapids Dam
Priest Rapids Dam is a hydroelectric, concrete gravity dam; located on the Columbia River, between the Yakima Firing Range and the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, and bridges Yakima County and Grant County, in the U.S. state of Washington. The dam is 24 miles south of the town of Vantage, and 47 miles...
and Desert Aire to turn north past Mattawa
Mattawa, Washington
Mattawa is an incorporated city in Grant County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,609 at the 2000 census. An estimated population exists between 4500-6500 residents during peak fruit picking/agricultural season and subsides by approximately 2000 residents during non-picking...
into Beverly
Beverly, Washington
Beverly, Washington is a small community along the banks of the Columbia River in central Washington state. The community, which consists of a few hundred residents, is just a few miles downriver from Wanapum Dam and is nestled at the base of what locals call Sentinel Gap, a huge basalt formation...
. In Beverly, where it crosses railroad tracks formerly belonging to 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...
west of the Beverly Railroad Bridge
Beverly Railroad Bridge
The Beverly Railroad Bridge was constructed by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad in 1909 during its Pacific Extension...
. After leaving Beverly, the roadway passes the Wanapum Dam
Wanapum Dam
Wanapum Dam is a hydroelectric project located on the Columbia River downstream from Vantage, Washington where Interstate 90 crosses the Columbia from Grant County into Kittitas County. It is owned by the Grant County Public Utility District. Its reservoir is named Lake Wanapum.The dam, and its...
to end at , south of its interchange with (I-90). The busiest segment of SR 243 in 2007 was between SR 24 and Desert Aire, with a daily average of 4,600; in 1970, the same area was the busiest segment with a daily average of 950.
History
The first state-maintained highway to take the current route of SR 243 was a branch of (SSH 7C), established in 1957; the branch ran from to SSH 7C. By 1963, only the BeverlyBeverly, Washington
Beverly, Washington is a small community along the banks of the Columbia River in central Washington state. The community, which consists of a few hundred residents, is just a few miles downriver from Wanapum Dam and is nestled at the base of what locals call Sentinel Gap, a huge basalt formation...
–SSH 7C portion of the highway was completed; the 1964 highway renumbering renumbered SSH 7C to , the branch to SR 243 and SSH 11A to . SR 24, SR 26 and SR 243 were all partially incomplete until 1981.
Major intersections
The highway is located entirely in Grant County.| Location | Mile | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.00 | Southern terminus | ||
| 28.26 | Northern terminus |