It's "official" - hello Wal-Mart (Hillsboro, Tigard: 2013, how much)

[Skippy Weaselpants]

According to today's Boregonian, Wal-Mart has made it official that they are going to build a 137,900 square foot store in Tigard right next to Costco. It's scheduled to open in late 2013. I can't imagine they could ever improve the streets and intersections in that area enough to offset the gigantic increase in traffic this will bring. If you think traffic on 99W, 217 and I-5 in that area is bad now, just wait. I'm guessing a lot of commuters and local residents will now opt for helicopters.

[jjpop]

Really???!!! How are Dartmouth and 72nd supposed to handle the added traffic? It's bad enough with the Costco and Winco traffic. I've waited through many a green light to get off of Dartmouth on to 99W on a weekend afternoon.

Plus I'm just not a fan of Walmart. The last time I went to one, the only thing I left with was an empty bladder.

[Nell Plotts]

May their parking lot be ever empty.

[pw72]

Originally Posted by Nell Plotts

May their parking lot be ever empty.

Won't happen. Ever. Really.

[The Cactus Leaguer]

Meh. They will be picking off a lot of business from Costco, Fred Meyer, Toys R Us, etc.... but I am surprised they didn't go for a more "exurban" location.

[The Cactus Leaguer]

Forgot to add - what I'm more curious about is what they'll do with 217 in the long run. Supposedly they will widen it a bit and remove some exits but that will be an interesting battle.

[Skippy Weaselpants]

Originally Posted by The Cactus Leaguer

Forgot to add - what I'm more curious about is what they'll do with 217 in the long run. Supposedly they will widen it a bit and remove some exits but that will be an interesting battle.

I don't think 217 can be widened. However, if the city of Tigard comes up with a plan to divert traffic off of 99W onto collector streets in that area, they could ask ODOT to pay for the improvements. ODOT has a policy that if a city (or county) wants to make street improvements that will reduce traffic on state roads/highways, they will pay for the project.

[Random_Walk]

Wow - 217 is a parking lot during most afternoons as it is now. I can't imagine how much further downhill that will go. :/

OTOH, I'm not sure how much extra traffic it would bring. The Wal-Mart in Cornelius (just outside Hillsboro) has a fairly full parking lot, but traffic on the main road coming out of HBO is fairly smooth and empty of traffic. That said, most folks don't know about that one existing...

[doggiemama]

From Tigard Times:

Under its development plans, Walmart will pay for changes to Pacific Highway. It will also widen parts of 72nd Avenue to allow for more traffic in the area. Three new traffic signals will also be installed along Dartmouth Street.

Walmart must also improve Beveland Road, Hermoso Way, the Highway 217 off-ramps and the numerous driveway approaches and street intersections along the road.

[The Cactus Leaguer]

Originally Posted by Skippy Weaselpants

I don't think 217 can be widened. However, if the city of Tigard comes up with a plan to divert traffic off of 99W onto collector streets in that area, they could ask ODOT to pay for the improvements. ODOT has a policy that if a city (or county) wants to make street improvements that will reduce traffic on state roads/highways, they will pay for the project.

You are probably right in that area, I was referring to the area further north.