East Pierce drivers: Expect delay for WSDOT road work during afternoon commute
Commuters traveling on state Route 161 between Graham and Eatonville will experience delays starting this afternoon, according to a news release from the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Drivers can expect a delay of about 10 minutes as crews test temporary traffic signals starting around 3 p.m.
“Temporary traffic signals will be in place around the clock starting with the afternoon commute Wednesday, July 23,” the news release said.
The roadway is being turned into a temporary single-lane road this summer as crews begin replacing culverts with an 18-foot-long bridge. During construction, the speed limit is 25 mph.
“Travelers can expect delays of up to 10 minutes while workers test the signals and shift traffic to the temporary single lane bypass road,” the news release said.
Removing the culverts and replacing them with the bridge is meant to improve fish passage to South Creek, according to The News Tribune’s previous reporting.
Construction is expected to be completed in the fall.
A push button was installed at the traffic signal for “longer travel time between signals for bicyclists,” according to the news release.
This story was originally published July 23, 2025 at 12:58 PM.
