Question: What’s happening on Sprague Avenue where you get off on the exits from Highway 16? They’ve been limiting lanes for several days, and sometimes the backups have been pretty long. On the east side of the street they’ve put in new landscaping and what looks like a long line of half-buried barrels. — Dorothy, Gig Harbor
Answer: What you’re seeing is the most recent phase of the City of Tacoma’s ongoing “Sprague Enhancement Project.”
The new Nalley Valley viaduct improvements have turned Sprague into a highly visible gateway to Tacoma, and the city is trying to pretty things up. They’re also improving stormwater treatment. For the past week crews have been putting in curbs for a new center median that’s intended to calm traffic.
What looks like barrels is actually drainage pipe — part of new bio-retention rain gardens that will treat roadway runoff. The rain gardens and extra landscaping will improve the city’s tree canopy and reduce rainwater runoff into the Foss watershed.
At some point, you’ll see a new neighborhood gateway sign, which is also included in the project.
Rob Carson: 253-597-8693
rob.carson@thenewstribune.com
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