A request is being sent to Governor Chris Gregoire of Washington State to support highway development and expansion that will facilitate tourism growth in Washington's prestigious grape growing region, Red Mountain. Ed Shaw, who represents wine grape growers on Red Mountain, said that project is essential to the area's vintners.
"In the next 10 to 15 years, we expect to have up to 40 wineries and 1 million wine visitors to Red Mountain every year. We need access to the freeway," he said. "... The interchange at Benton City absolutely needs to be improved."
