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
Stage One: Tri-State Construction, Inc.   Stage Two: Woodworth and Company.    Stage Three: Tri-State Construction, Inc.

Recent Progress
Construction is substantially complete - only minor incidental work remains - on the first phase of this project, 6th Avenue/Pearl Street to Jackson Avenue. The second phase, Union to Jackson Avenue, was awarded Feb. 7, 2005, to Tri-State Construction, Inc. for a low bid of $43.7 million.  Construction activities began March 11.   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.  Construction is expected to begin in early April.

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 two of this project, 32 acres at Leach Creek mitigation site is in WSDOT possession.  An alternate mitigation plan has been submitted which includes stormwater 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.  Stormwater run-off will collected and treated to Dept. of Ecology standards for WSDOT construction projects.

Impacts to Traffic
Intermittent shoulder closures and nighttime lane closures can be expected throughout the project.  On March 28, a long-term closure will be in affect at the ramps to Tyler Street and Center Street.   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 nearly complete for stage one;  stage two construction has started.  The third and final stage is expected to begin construction in April 2005.

Planned vs. Actual Expenditures
(Total Project Cost)

Nickel funds included in above costs

2005 Transportation Partnership Account