Local

Summer road projects that will impact drivers across the South Sound

Stories by Tacoma News Tribune journalists, with AI summarization

This collection of articles highlights Washington's summer road projects, including a historic bridge demolition, repaving, and new tolls in the South Sound.

One project involves demolishing the 100-year-old state Route 167 Puyallup River Bridge to make room for the new expressway. This effort is part of the SR 167 Completion Project. The SR 509 and SR 167 expressways will operate under a range of tolls, with the Puget Sound Gateway Program intending to alleviate congestion.

Drivers on state Route 161 between Graham and Eatonville will face delays this summer due to culvert replacements. This project aims to improve fish passage.

Across the state, WSDOT has planned 117 major construction projects for the summer.

WSDOT will replace culverts on state Route 161 between Graham and Eatonville this summer.

NO. 1: BUSY PIERCE COUNTY ROAD WILL BE SINGLE-LANE THIS SUMMER DURING CONSTRUCTION

The construction will turn part of the highway into a single-lane road starting June 23. | Published June 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sephora Charles

An aerial view of part of the future SR 167 Expressway on October 4, 2022, in Fife, Wash. The new expressway will add 6 miles of tolled highway between Puyallup and the Port of Tacoma, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.

NO. 2: GUIDE TO THE 100+ CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ACROSS WASHINGTON HIGHWAYS SUMMER 2025

Here are resources to help you navigate summer construction. | Published June 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Karlee Van De Venter Daniel Schrager

A map shows the timeline of construction improvements on State Route 167. Work on Stage 2a begins this summer.

NO. 3: 2 TOLL ROADS TO OPEN SOON IN PIERCE COUNTY AREA. HERE’S THE COST TO USE THEM

Certain drivers could receive a discount, part of a low-income program that could be implemented late next year. | Published July 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Isha Trivedi

Detour sign By iStockphoto

NO. 4: HIGHWAYS IN GIG HARBOR, PUYALLUP, OLYMPIA TO BE REPAVED SOON. DETAILS HERE

Work to remove and replace asphalt on highways in Pierce, Thurston, Kitsap and Mason counties will continue through July and finish this fall. | Published July 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

The Puyallup River Bridge in 1925, shortly after its construction.

NO. 5: CREWS DEMOLISH 100-YEAR-OLD PUYALLUP BRIDGE. ‘IT’S NEVER GOING TO BE FORGOTTEN.’

WSDOT offered $1 million for someone to “relocate, preserve and maintain the bridge.” The agency didn’t get any takers. | Published July 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Isabela Lund

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.