SR 167 - Tacoma to Edgewood New Freeway Construction

Quarterly Project Report Update for Quarter Ending March 2008

Project Title & Location
SR 167 Extension Stage 1 (SR 509 to I-5), Tacoma/Fife
SR 167/I-5 to SR 161 Stage 2, Fife/Puyallup

Project Description
Funds preliminary design engineering and selective right-of-way purchases on a project that will ultimately build a new four-lane freeway from the Port of Tacoma to I-5 and six lanes from I-5 to SR 161 in Puyallup. The latter section includes two general-purpose lanes and one HOV lane in each direction.

Contractor/Consultant
Project not yet advertised or awarded.

Recent Progress
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) signed the Record of Decision (ROD) on Oct. 2, 2007, completing the environmental documentation process and allowing WSDOT to move forward with advanced engineering and design.

The FHWA issued the Tier II Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in early December 2006.

The project team continues to advance design and purchase select property along the corridor.

Design Construction Impacts
Detailed construction impacts will be analyzed later in the design process.

Environmental Impacts / Compliance
The Tier II Final EIS includes plans to minimize or mitigate environmental impacts within the corridor’s footprint. Preliminary project engineering includes innovative environmental designs to manage stormwater, help protect area waters from pollution and improve stream habitat. The Endangered Species Act consultation was initiated by FHWA on Sept. 30, 2005 and completed on Sept. 17, 2007.

Impacts to Traffic
This project will complete the regional highway plan by providing a freeway connection between I-5 in Fife and the existing SR 167 freeway terminus in Puyallup.

Project Milestones Scheduled Attained Milestone Outlook
Start Project Design September 2003 October 2003 Stages 1 and 2 have received design approval.
Begin Limited Right-of-Way Acquisition October 2003 October 2003 Purchase of priority parcels continues as funding allows.
Environmental Documentation December 2006 October 2007 The Final EIS was distributed in early December 2006. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service completed Biological Opinions in May and September 2007, respectively. The FHWA signed the ROD in October 2007.
     
Project Cost Summary: Dollars in
millions
Percent
of Total

Planned vs. Actual Expenditures
(Total Project Cost)
Project Expenditure Chart

Preliminary Engineering $33.72  21.1%
Right-of-Way $126.35  78.9%
Construction $  0.0    0.0%
Funded Project Costs $160.07 100.0%

Nickel funds included in above costs

$63.3  39.6%

2005 Transportation Partnership Account

$70.0 43.8%

  For more information, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects

Steve Fuchs, Project Engineer, (360) 709-8100