Project Title & Location

1)  6th Avenue/Pearl Street to Jackson Ave., Tacoma 
2)  SR 16 HOV - Union Ave. to Jackson Ave., Tacoma
3)  36th Street to Olympic Drive, Gig Harbor

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
Tri-State Construction, Inc. of Bellevue in January 2004 was awarded the project's first phase, 6th Avenue to Jackson Avenue.  Bid opening on the second phase has been delayed.  The apparent low bidder on the final phase is Woodworth & Company of Tacoma.

Recent Progress
Construction is substantially complete, only minor incidental work remains, on the first phase of this project, 6th Ave/Pearl Street to Jackson Avenue. The second phase, Union to Jackson Avenue, was advertised for construction bids in late March 2004, but due to environmental permit appeals the bid opening for this project has been delayed and construction will not begin as scheduled.  Negotiations are underway to withdraw the appeals.  Revisions to mitigation plans as a result of the appeals will cause further delay in permitting.  Work continues on relocating utilities in the corridor in preparation for the contract work.  The final phase of the project, 36th Street to Olympic Drive, has been accelerated seven months; bids for the work were opened in December 2004.

Design Construction Impacts

Maintaining compatible work zones has be the result of on-going coordination between SR 16 HOV phase one construction and the adjacent Tacoma Narrows Bridge project.

Due to environmental permit appeals, phase two bid opening has been delayed.  Careful evaluation and coordination of the delayed construction will continue as WSDOT strives to have roadway work completed prior to the opening of the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge.  There is a possibility that construction may extend past the opening date of the new bridge.

Construction on phase three  is on track to begin in Spring 2005, ahead of the original 2003 Transportation Funding Package schedule.

Environmental Impacts / Compliance

For phase two of this project, 32 acres at Leach Creek mitigation site is in WSDOT possession.  Work is underway to develop a mitigation plan at China Lake, to substitute for remaining mitigation needs as determined through negotiation of environmental appeals.

Impacts to Traffic
A three-day engineering workshop to focus on coordination of construction work zones for these three construction phases and the work on the New Tacoma Narrows Bridge was conducted in June 2003. Two lanes of traffic in each direction on SR 16 will be maintained throughout the project with some nighttime lane closures. 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 on phase one began in April 2004.  Construction of phase two has been delayed. The final phase will break ground in Spring 2005.

Planned vs. Actual Expenditures
(Total Project Cost)

Nickel funds included in above costs

2005 Transportation Partnership Account