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Project Title & Location
SR 704 - Cross-Base Highway, Spanaway
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Project Description
When completed this project will provide a direct east-west highway connecting I-5 and SR 7. The Cross-Base Highway will be a new six mile, four lane limited access highway with four signalized intersections and two new interchanges.
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Contractor/Consultant
This project not yet advertised or awarded
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Recent Progress
Engineers continue to develop project designs, working toward Design Concurrence in Summer 2005. The first WSDOT public meetings were held in November and continue monthly. Conceptual stormwater design is underway. Geotechnical drilling to determine soil types is 50 percent complete. Land surveying is 95 percent complete. Pierce County is encountering difficulty obtaining the Roy Enhancement Site. WSDOT and WDFW have reached agreement on appropriate western gray squirrel habitat enhancements.
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Design Construction Impacts
This project will construct a new highway connecting I-5 and SR 7. To accommodate the I-5 connection, the project will modify the Thorne Lane interchange. A new southbound connector roadway will link Gravelly Lake Drive to Thorne Lane to minimize construction impacts on interstate traffic. The Thorne Lane interchange reconstruction will be accomplished south of the existing interchange, allowing motorists to use the existing facility during construction of the new Thorne Lane bridge over the Interstate.
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Environmental Impacts / Compliance
During the EIS phase, the selected alternative was chosen because it avoids many sensitive areas and built constraints. The roadway will curve to avoid many sensitive natural areas. In locations where impacts are not avoidable, designs will minimize impacts to the environment by use of retaining walls and bridges.
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Impacts to Traffic
Project designs will incorporate sound traffic management practices in order to minimize impacts to motorists.
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