Route Description
SR 397 runs 24.6 miles from Interstate 82 in central Benton Country east to Piert Road in Finley, then north towards the Columbia River and over the Cable Bridge to Interstate 182 (I-182), U.S. Route 12 (US 12), and US 395 in Pasco. The route links Finley, Kennewick, and Pasco to each other and Interstate 82 heading towards Oregon. WSDOT has found that about 18,000 motorists utilize the road daily before the intersection with West Ainsworth Street and South Tenth Avenue in Finley based on average annual daily traffic (AADT) data. SR 397's newest section goes east through the Horse Heaven Hills south of the Tri-Cities from Interstate 82 and US 395 to South Piert Road to create an easier route for truckers traveling between I-82 and the Finley Chemical Plant. This section of SR 397 was added to the Washington State Highway system in 2009.
SR 397 starts at Interstate 82, running eastward towards an intersection with Olympia Street in the hills south of Kennewick. It curves towards the south while still heading east and turns into Finley Road before turning towards the northeast. When it arrives at South Piert Road, SR 397 goes west and crosses the railroad tracks of a railroad operated by the BNSF Railway, and then turns northwest, paralleling the railroad into Downtown Finley. After entering Downtown, the road stops paralleling the railroad for about 0.8 miles (1.3 km) to intersect East Bowles Road and South Haney Road, before then returns to paralleling the railroad. The highway continues northwest to intersect East Perkins Road and East Bryson Brown Road, before north and crossing another railroad, part of the Union Pacific Railroad. From the crossing, SR 397 travels between the two railroads into Kennewick.
In Kennewick, the road goes north and intersects East Columbia Drive, which goes west to SR 240 and US 395, and then goes onto the Cable Bridge over the Columbia River into Pasco and Franklin County. After getting off of the Cable Bridge, the highway goes east as Ainsworth Street and again crosses BNSF Railway, before turning north and crossing the BNSF Railway twice. After crossing the railroads, SR 397 goes into Downtown Pasco and then the highway ends at a cloverleaf interchange with I-182, US 12, and US 395.
Read more about this topic: Washington State Route 397
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