Pierce County: Man killed in crash Sunday night on Military Road

A young man was killed Sunday night when his car crashed on Military Road South in Pierce County.

Lewis-McChord: A giant military marriage

Merging Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base into the largest military installation on the West Coast took four years, directly affects more than 100,000 people and will cost at least $8.5 million.

The transition to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, which officially took place last week, arouses deep emotions, loyalties and rivalries against a backdrop of uncertain long-term savings.

And while commanders expect much of the consolidation to go unnoticed, there will be plenty of signs of change.

Lewis-McChord: A giant military marriage

Merging Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base into the largest military installation on the West Coast took four years, directly affects more than 100,000 people and will cost at least $8.5 million.

The transition to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, which officially took place last week, arouses deep emotions, loyalties and rivalries against a backdrop of uncertain long-term savings.

And while commanders expect much of the consolidation to go unnoticed, there will be plenty of signs of change.

Beleaguered commuters need cross-base highway

Re: “Improve transit, existing roads before building costly highway” (letter, 3-10).

Don’t confuse a lack of highway supporters at the recent Sound Transit presentation as a lack of support for the cross-base highway. Thousands of East Pierce County residents, including myself, who would benefit from a direct link to the military bases and I-5, were unable to attend because we were working.

I am neither a land developer nor a car dealer. I live 13 miles east of McChord Air Force Base in South Hill. It takes 30 to 45 minutes to commute to my job on the base on severely congested arterials. I often sit through three or four light cycles at an intersection due to the backup. What other commuting options do I have? It is a half-mile walk from my house to the bus stop. Riding the bus would take nearly two hours, three transfers and a nearly two-mile walk from the only stop on McChord to reach my office.

Don’t widen road, owners beg

Pierce County Councilwoman Barbara Gelman and her friends and neighbors say they are fed up with the tens of thousands of cars and trucks that jam the three-lane Spanaway Loop Road near their homes.

But they’re even more upset by the prospect of new traffic lanes proposed to ease the congestion.

About a dozen people begged the Pierce County Council’s community development committee Monday to derail plans to make room for more vehicles by adding a traffic lane.