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. The second phase was advertised to bidders in March 2004.  The final phase has not yet been advertised for bids.

Recent Progress
Construction began on the first phase of this work, 6th Ave/Pearl Street to Jackson Avenue in April 2004. The second phase, Union to Jackson Avenue, was advertised for construction bids in late March, but due to environmental permit appeals the bid opening for this project has been delayed to Fall 2004 and construction will not begin as scheduled.  However, 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 and it is on track for Contract Advertisement in October 2004.

Design Construction Impacts

Environmental permit issues associated with wetlands mitigation have to be further addressed before phase two construction work can begin.  Several Federal and State permits for the project have been earmarked for reconsideration or have been appealed.  The impacts of this delay on the phase two construction schedule are being examined to ensure the construction work is properly sequenced to meet the opening of the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge to traffic.  Engineering design costs will increase as phase two construction work is re-evaluated and contract plans amended.

Environmental Impacts / Compliance

The amount of wetlands mitigation on phase two of this project requires a 40- to 50-acre mitigation site.  WSDOT, in collaboration with Department of Ecology, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the City of Tacoma have determined the best and most practical site to accommodate wetlands within the drainage basin is around the headwaters of Leach Creek in the City of University Place.  WSDOT is working with permitting agency partners toward finding solutions to allow work to move forward on acquiring the mitigation site in University Place.  In June 2004, the Critical Area Ordinance and Department of Ecology wetland permits were appealed, delaying contract work.

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