Overpass above I-82 in Union Gap named for late city council member and mayor Dan Olson

UNION GAP - The Washington State Department of Transportation and the city of Union Gap is paying tribute to a late Union Gap city council member and mayor by naming an overpass located above Interstate 82 near Union Gap in his honor.

The Dan C. Olson Memorial Overpass was officially named on Tuesday, July 30 as maintenance crews with WSDOT installed signage on I-82 near the overpass.

"Dan was a catalyst that helped change a lot of the way the roadway system works in the city, and where development is occurring today," said Brian White, region administrator for WSDOT's South Central Region.

Olson was born and raised in the Yakima Valley, where he spent his life committed to making day-to-day life better for residents of the city of Union Gap.

"He was a passionate leader who had a heart for public service and a knack for problem-solving, which led to his many contributions to transportation and travel improvements in the region," said Union Gap City Manager Sharon Bounds.

During his time as mayor and city council member, Olson advocated for a South Union Gap interchange, which he saw as an opportunity to create better local connections with I-82. Collaborating with Olson in the planning and proposal phases, WSDOT built two additional ramps at the interchange, allowing for full access to the interstate and local businesses to revive a retail corridor, which opened to traffic in 2019. Olson passed away in 2018 before the project was completed.