Project Title & Location

1)  6th Ave. to Jackson Ave. - HOV, Tacoma 
2)  36th St. to Olympic Drive NW - HOV, Gig Harbor
3)  Union Ave. to Jackson Ave. - HOV, Tacoma

Project Description
This project constructs HOV Lanes on SR 16 from Olympic Drive in Gig Harbor to Union Avenue in Tacoma. There are currently four travel lanes. There will be six lanes throughout the corridor when complete, with additional lanes provided between Union Avenue and 6th Avenue interchanges.

Contractor/Consultant
Phase One: Tri-State Construction, Inc.   Phase Two: Woodworth and Company.    Phase Three: Tri-State Construction, Inc.

Recent Progress

Construction is physically complete on the first phase of this project, 6th Avenue to Jackson Avenue. 

The second phase, 36th Street to Olympic Drive, has been accelerated seven months; bids for the work were opened in December 2004.  Construction began in early May. The median has been cleared and the contractor is preparing the CSBC for paving in mid-June. 

The final phase of the project, Union to Jackson Avenue, was awarded Feb. 7, 2005.  Construction activities began March 11.  A revised staging plan developed with the Contractor allowed the existing Center Street ramps to remain open longer than planned and saved $40,000 in traffic control costs.  The new drainage ponds have been constructed, composted and seeded. This allows storm water to be stored and treated during next winter's construction season. Construction started on the westbound and eastbound Snake Lake bridges, the new 12th Street bridge, and the new Center Street off-ramp bridge. Grading and drainage have been completed on the westbound onramp at Union and for the realigned SR 16 curve near Cheney Stadium. Construction started on six of the 23 retaining walls.   

Design Construction Impacts

Maintaining compatible work zones has been the result of ongoing coordination between SR 16 HOV construction and the adjacent Tacoma Narrows Bridge project.

Environmental Impacts / Compliance

For phase three of this project, 32 acres at Leach Creek mitigation site is in WSDOT possession.  An alternate mitigation plan has been submitted which includes storm water treatment at Leach Creek and funding of improvements at China Lake.

For the entire project Temporary Water Pollution and Erosion Control Plans, Spill Prevention Plans, Fugitive Dust Plans, and Health and Safety Plans have been developed and are being implemented.  High visibility fencing has been installed around wetland boundaries.  Storm water run-off will collected and treated to Dept. of Ecology standards for WSDOT construction projects.

As added insurance at Snake Lake, WSDOT asked the contractor to install an oil absorbent boom across the lake to contain any spills that might occur during bridge construction.

Impacts to Traffic
Intermittent shoulder closures and nighttime lane closures can be expected throughout the project.  On March 28, the existing Tyler Street ramp was closed permanently.  The existing Center Street on- and off-ramps were closed June 7th.  The Stage 2A traffic shift is scheduled for June 15th. This shift will place for westbound and eastbound traffic on the westbound Snake Lake bridge.  Electronic message signs and highway advisory radio will be employed throughout the area, including the I-5 corridor, to alert travelers about traffic conditions on SR 16 during construction. A full communication and outreach program will also be used for traffic mitigation.

Construction is complete for phase one;  phase two construction started May 2, 2005.  The third phase began construction March 11, 2005.

Planned vs. Actual Expenditures
(Total Project Cost)

Nickel funds included in above costs

2005 Transportation Partnership Account