Date:
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Contact:
Dave Ziegler, Project Engineer, (253) 534-3101
Lisa Murdock, Communications Manager, (360) 357-2789
TACOMA –The opening Thursday of new State Route (SR) 16 ramps at Center Street marks another milestone in WSDOT’s effort to improve safety and relieve congestion on highways in Pierce County.
The new Center Street interchange near Cheney Stadium provides a better, safer connection to Fircrest, as well as increased mobility along the SR 16 corridor. The new ramps are longer and allow traffic to get up to speed before merging with SR 16 traffic.
“These new ramps will provide better access to the improved SR 16 freeway for Fircrest residents and businesses,” said Fircrest City Manager Bill Brandon. “We look forward to using this facility to improve the commute.”
To accommodate the project, Tri-State and WSDOT crews widened Center Street near the entrance to Fircrest. “WSDOT would like to thank business owners on and around Center Street for their patience during construction,” said Dave Ziegler, project engineer. “While the widening of Center Street created the necessary connection to the freeway ramps, the work we did will also improve traffic flow on adjacent city streets.”
The improved ramps are part of the SR 16 Union to Jackson project, designed to increase capacity and provide HOV lanes.
Within weeks, WSDOT will unveil the Scott Pierson Trail, a five-mile pedestrian/bicycle path connecting Tacoma and Gig Harbor. The trail was constructed as part of this Union to Jackson project.
Crews expect to complete the entire project ahead of schedule in late January. Construction began in 2005.
Find out more at www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/PierceCountyHOV/sr16_olympic_union/. For more information about HOV lanes, visit http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/HOV/FAQ.htm .
< Back to News Home