Federal funding for construction on highways 167 and 509 aims to reduce local traffic
By 2028, the state plans to have more direct routes to Interstate 5, and in some cases bypass the interstate, in Pierce and southern King counties to avoid traffic on local streets.
The federal government granted the Washington State Department of Transportation $73.6 million on Monday to build tolled highways on state Routes 167 and 509.
The state Route 167 completion project will build the remaining four miles of the highway between Meridian Avenue and I-5, and a two-mile connection from I-5 to the Port of Tacoma, according to WSDOT.
Plans for state Route 509 would extend the highway to I-5 near SeaTac, add an access point to the Sea-Tac International Airport for southbound traffic, and allow traffic and trucks to bypass I-5, state Route 99 and local streets, WSDOT said.
These construction projects are known as the “Puget Sound Gateway Program,” and are anticipated to cost $2 billion. Funding is sourced from $1.6 billion of the Connecting Washington funding package, which looks to improve statewide transportation, local contributions, tolls and the federal grant approved this week.
Federal elected officials consider the grant an investment in regional transportation.
Washington Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray said the alternative routes will help facilitate the transport of goods and reduce congestion, issues which have plagued the Puget Sound region for years.
Reps. Denny Heck (D-10) and Derek Kilmer (D-6) said the projects will improve mobility to and from the Port of Tacoma.
SR 167
The SR 167 project looks to finish the highway and bridge Meridian Avenue in Puyallup to I-5 in Fife.
“Its completion will benefit the movement of freight, while improving safety and reducing congestion on local roads and highways in the surrounding area,” WSDOT said.
When completed, state Route 167 will be a divided highway with access points at interchanges in key locations: state Route 509, 54th Avenue, I-5, Valley Avenue East and state Route 161.
The project has been broken down into segments:
70th Avenue East Bridge Replacement Project: Constructs a new four-lane 70th Avenue East bridge over I-5 in Fife. The work began in early 2020 and will take about 18 months to complete.
SR 167/I-5 to SR 509 - New Expressway Project: Adds two miles of new highway between I-5 and the Port of Tacoma. Construction is expected to begin in 2022 and take about four years to complete.
SR 167/I-5 to SR 161 - New Expressway Project: Builds four miles of new highway between Meridian Avenue and I-5 and adds new interchanges. WSDOT estimates construction to begin in early 2024 and finish by the end of 2028.
SR 509
The state Route 509 project would extend the highway to I-5 near Tukwila, and add an exit ramp near the airport.
“When finished, SR 509 will be a key component of the Seattle and south King County transportation network,” WSDOT’s page on the project said. “Along with the SR 99 tunnel improvements, the project provides a critical north-south alternative to I-5 through Seattle and King County.”
This project includes funding 1.8 miles of the Lake to Sound trail in SeaTac and Burien, as part of a 16-mile non-motorized connection between Renton and Des Moines.
WSDOT provided stages of the state Route 509 project:
Stage 1A: Constructs a new bridge over state Route 99 near South 208th Street and will take about two and a half years to complete.
State Route 509/I-5 to 24th Avenue South: Renovates the I-5 and state Route 516 interchange, builds a new state Route 509 ramp connecting I-5, constructs a new interchange at 24th Avenue, and builds a new South 216th Street I-5 overpass with pedestrian and bike access
SR 509/24th Avenue South to South 188th Street: Builds new section of state Route 509, and adds southbound lane on I-5 between state Route 516 and South 272nd Street.Street
Both highway construction projects are anticipated to be completed by 2028.
