WSDOT - Tacoma to Edgewood New Freeway Construction - September 2005 Quarterly Project Report

SR 167 - Tacoma to Edgewood New Freeway Construction
*Quarterly Project Report Update for Quarter Ending September 2005*

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 Preliminary Design for Stage 1 (SR 509 to I-5) began January 2004. The engineering design team is developing basic roadway alignments and geometry. Geotechnical investigations have begun in order to provide recommendations for early design decisions. The Final Access Point Decision Report for the proposed SR 167/I-5 interchange was accepted by FHWA in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 18, 2005. Final approval will be issued with approval of the Record of Decision for the EIS. Carter and Burgess is completing their final report with recommendations for construction sequencing for the new freeway from the Port of Tacoma to Interstate 5 (stage 1).
Design Construction Impacts Design work is focused on identifying and cataloging issues and risks for further evaluation in the design process.
Environmental Impacts / Compliance The Tier II Draft environmental impact statement was distributed to the public in February 2003. The Signatory Agency Committee members agreed with the final Concurrence Point, allowing the PFEIS and BA to be processed. The draft 4(f) document was distributed for comment on Aug. 19, 2005.	Impacts to Traffic When completed, this project will complete the regional highway plan by providing a freeway connection between the cities of Puyallup and Tacoma.

Project Milestones	Scheduled	Attained	Milestone Outlook
Start Project Design	October 2003	October 2003	Design is moving ahead on those work elements that are not impacted by the Record of Decision for the environmental documentation.
Begin Limited Right of Way Acquisition	October 2003	October 2003	Purchase of priority parcels continues as funding allows.
Environmental Documentation	July 2006		The preliminary Final EIS will go out for review in October 2005. Consultation for the Biological Assessment will begin the end of September 2005.

Project Cost Summary:	Dollars in millions	Percent of Total	Planned vs. Actual Expenditures (Total Project Cost)
Preliminary Engineering	$33.7	36.9%
Right-of-Way	$57.6	63.1%
Construction	$ 0.0	0.0%
Funded Project Costs	$91.3	100.0%

Nickel funds included in above costs	$63.3	69.3%
2005 Transportation Partnership Account

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

Steve Fuchs, Project Engineer, (360) 570-6602, fuchss@wsdot.wa.gov