Project Facts
- Removes existing 36th Street pedestrian bridge.
- Constructs new bridge over South M Street for collector-distributor roadway and widens I-5 bridge over M Street for future connection to SR 16 Nalley Valley Viaduct and removes Tacoma Avenue Bridge over I-5.
- Reconstructs Yakima/Thompson and G/Delin bridges over I-5.
Why is WSDOT
building this project?
The I-5 South 48th Street to Pacific Avenue project is the next in a series of upcoming projects to increase capacity and ultimately provide High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on Interstate 5. Through these series of projects, the entire Tacoma I-5 corridor will be widened for an additional lane and wider shoulders in each direction from State Route (SR) 512 to the Port of Tacoma Road to make room for future HOV lanes.
The segment of I-5 between South 48th Street and Pacific Avenue is prioritized next for construction because of the traffic congestion and the proximity to SR 16 and the Nalley Valley Viaduct. Currently, motorists that travel the segment of northbound I-5 between the junctions of SR 16 and I-705 experience periods of heavy congestion. This is due to traffic weaving movements created by the high volume of vehicles merging from SR 16 and exiting to I-705 to downtown Tacoma. This project will remedy that condition.
The End Result
When complete, the I-5 South 48th Street to Pacific Avenue project will provide a new multi-lane, northbound collector/distributor road which will include a new northbound exit to I-705, and an improved merge from SR 16.
The traffic weave that currently exists on northbound I-5 between SR 16 and I-705 will be greatly improved by shifting entering and exiting traffic onto the new collector-distributor roadway that will run along the existing northbound freeway lanes from South 48th to I-705. These improvements will allow for safer movement of traffic through this busy segment of I-5 and help to reduce accidents.
The city street bridges, Tacoma Avenue, Yakima Avenue, and Delin Street, that span over I-5 will be removed. The Yakima Avenue and Delin Street bridges will be reconstructed to modern standards in order to accommodate the future placement of freeway HOV lanes and wider shoulders beneath them. This condition will also improve traffic flow on these city streets after the bridges are reconstructed.
The new northbound collector/distributor roadway will also serve as an important traffic management route to keep traffic moving during the Nalley Valley Viaduct staged-construction project scheduled to begin in 2008.
Project Benefits
- Congestion relief. The I-5 and SR 16 corridors will experience improved mobility due to additional capacity.
- Safety. Additional merge lanes, wider shoulders, improved roadway curves, and lighting, will result in improved sight distance and traffic flow, resulting in enhanced safety.
- Environment. The projects will meet the latest in environmental standards.
What is the project timeline?
The $72.9 million construction project to construct safety and mobility improvements on the segment of Interstate 5 between South 48th Street and Pacific Avenue is underway.
Kiewit Pacific Co. began work in August 2005, and the project is scheduled for completion in spring 2008.
The Washington State Legislature approved $95.7 million for the project in 2003, part of the nickel gas tax funding package. The funding includes design, contract administration, environmental assessment, mitigation and construction.
Public Involvement
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. A Design and Access Hearing was held on October 28, 1998, at the Jennie Reed Elementary School. Since then, approximately 40 project presentations with comment and question/answer periods have been held with various civic groups. These informal meetings will continue to be held as needed. If you would like to request a presentation for your group or organization, please contact Jamie Swift, public information officer, at (360) 357-2703.
Environmental Protection
- As this project is designed, WSDOT evaluates the potential project impacts to threatened and endangered species, wetlands, storm water runoff, air quality, and other environmental concerns. We are working with local, state, and federal resource agencies to ensure the environmental benefits of the project are being best met.
- Minor wetland impacts will be mitigated in a proposed wetland site along the Puyallup River. Retaining walls will be constructed as part of this project to help minimize property impacts.
- Noise barriers will be constructed as part of this project to help reduce freeway noise near adjacent schools and residences.
- There are two components to WSDOT's erosion control and water quality protection efforts: temporary measures during construction activities and permanent measures when the project is completed.
- Temporary measures used during construction will include installation of silt fences, check dams, compost berms, and temporary ponds. Slopes will be stabilized using compost, plastic coverings or hydro seeding.
- Permanent measures will include constructing drainage structures, swales and detention ponds that collect and filter highway storm water runoff. Additionally, other permanent erosion control measures include compost, topsoil, seeding, fertilizing and mulching for slope stabilization. All permanent erosion control measures will be put in place as soon as practical after construction starts so they can be used during construction.
Please visit the
WSDOT Environmental
Services Web site for more information.
Increasing safety is one of our priorities
From a safety standpoint, additional merge lanes, separation of weaving traffic flows onto the northbound collector-distributor roadway, wider shoulders, and improved roadway curvature will improve travel conditions for motorists.
Will this project impact tribal resources?
At WSDOT we seek to address the concerns of the tribal nations using the process outlined in Section 106 of The National Historic Preservation Act and the WSDOT Tribal Consultation Policy adopted in 2003 by the Transportation Commission as part of the WSDOT Centennial Accord Plan.
The Puyallup Tribe of Indians has been a significant stakeholder in the development of the Tacoma/Pierce County Core HOV Program. Beginning in 1998, the Puyallup Tribe has been involved in defining projects in Tacoma and Fife, providing direct input to project staff during two presentations in 1999. When the next design phase began in 2002 - widening I-5 from the Tacoma Dome to Fife - the tribe was invited to participate in a project oversight committee whose focus will be to review staff work and provide input on design alternatives.
For more information visit our WSDOT Tribal Liaison Web site.
Financial Information
This project is funded through the following sources:
- 2003 Gas Tax (Nickel Funding) - $97,564,035
- Existing Funds - $7,983,323
- Other Agency Funds - $50,000
City of Tacoma ($50,000)
- Total Funding Available From All Sources - $105,552,358
For project schedule and updates, please see the Quarterly Project Report.
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Howard Diep, Project Engineer
Lakewood Project Engineer Office
11203 Bridgeport Way SW
Lakewood, WA 98499
or
P.O. Box 47440
Olympia, WA 98504-7440
Phone: 1-888-220-2984
Email: DiepH@wsdot.wa.gov
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