Project Facts
- Crews will widen northbound SR 167 in Auburn between 15th Street SW and 15th Street NW.
- We installed 13 miles of orange fencing to protect sensitive areas during construction.
- Construction began in spring 2006.
April 2008
- Please check the Construction Update Report for upcoming ramp and lane closures on this project.
- Crews have turned on the new lighting.
- Crews opened the final section of carpool lane from 15th Street SW to just north of Main Street in late June.
When completed, this project will provide a continuous northbound carpool lane from the Auburn Super Mall to Interstate 405 in Renton. Adding carpool lanes and metered ramps at interchanges will increase safety and reduce congestion on SR 167.
Why is WSDOT
widening northbound SR 167?
Lanes for carpools, vanpools, and buses carry far more people than a general-purpose lane of traffic when the highway is congested. These high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes are designed to maximize the movement of people. Thus, even if HOV lanes look less congested than general-purpose lanes they often carry more people. Building a northbound carpool lane reduces commute times for transit, carpools and vanpools.
Many of you have asked why we aren't widening southbound SR 167 at this time. Our project schedules are based on funding availability and we must work with the funding provided by legislature. Right now we only have the funds to widen and improve the northbound lanes on SR 167.
We also have plans to widen SR 167 in the southbound direction to add an HOV lane from 37th Street NW in Auburn to 8th Street E. in Pacific. We are currently designing this project and are funded for construction in 2009.
The End Result
This project constructs a carpool lane on northbound State Route 167 from 15th Street SW to 15th Street NW in Auburn. WSDOT will add and upgrade ramp meters and bypass lanes for carpools, vanpools and buses to northbound and southbound on-ramps between Auburn and Renton at the following interchanges:
- 15th Street Northwest
- South 277th Street
- Willis Street (State Route 516)
- South 212th Street
- South 180th Street/Southwest 43rd Street
Project Benefits
• Safety: Carpool lanes,widened shoulders and other modifications improve safety on SR 167. See "Improving Safety is one of our priorities" below for more information.
• Congestion relief: Carpool lanes on the highway and bypass lanes with metered lanes on the on ramps improve traffic flow and save travelers time.
• Environment: Installing retaining walls, improving storm water treatment detention facilities, and erosion control will protect the environment. See "Environmental Protection" for further information.
What is the project timeline?
- Spring 2006 - We started construction
- Fall 2007 - We expect to complete construction
Public Involvement
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. Please contact design Project Engineer John E. Johnson or construction Project Engineer Mark Sawyer for questions about this project.
Environmental Protection
• Installation of 9 retaining walls to reduce impacts to wetlands and wetland buffers.
• Construction of storm water treatment facilities for the removal of heavy metals and other debris from highway runoff and detention ponds for storm water flood control.
• Implementation of approved temporary erosion and sediment control plan.
• Approved Army Corps of Engineers' wetland mitigation plan will create/enhance more wetlands than the project will impact.
Please visit the WSDOT Environmental
Services Web site for more information.
Increasing safety is one of our priorities
• Metal guardrails will reduce median crossover accidents.
• Six modified exit ramps will decrease the chances of rear-end accidents by creating a smoother transition from the highway to the exit ramp.
• The new carpool and bypass lanes will reduce traffic congestion and accidents.
• Widening the inside shoulder from 4 feet to 10 feet will provide space for emergency use.
• New guardrail, concrete barriers and attenuators (crash absorbing devices) increase safety.
• A new lighting system at interchanges improves visibility at night.
Will this project impact tribal resources?
Section 106 consultation was initiated in July 2001 with the Muckleshoot, Snoqualmie, and Duwamish Tribes. As WSDOT continues to develop the project, that consultation process will continue to expand, ensuring that cultural and natural resource issues, of concern to the Tribes, are addressed in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 106, the Centennial Accord, and the Secretary's Executive Order on Tribal Consultation.
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.
For more information visit our WSDOT Tribal Liaison website.
Financial Information
This project is funded through the following fund sources:
- 2003 Gas Tax (Nickel Funding) - $40,014,708
- Existing Funds - $1,844,934
- Other Agency Funding - 1,050,000
- Total Funding from all sources - $42,909,642
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Joshua Cheatham
Construction Project Engineer
WSDOT Kent Project Office
21851 84th Avenue South
Phone: 253-872-2958
Fax: 253-872-2966
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