Date:  Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Contact: Claudia Cornish, Tacoma Narrows Bridge Communications Manager, (253) 534-4646
Janet Matkin, Tolls Communication Manager, (253) 534-4660

GIG HARBOR – Opening the new Narrows Bridge to traffic July 16 is not the only change motorists will experience along the SR 16 corridor in the upcoming weeks. Several changes will take place simultaneously as WSDOT coordinates traffic operations along four projects built on SR 16 between Union Avenue in Tacoma and Olympic Drive in Gig Harbor.

Below is a summary of SR 16 traffic operations and potential traffic impacts over the next few weeks:

July 11 – 14

Lane Closures for HOV and Paving Work. Between now and Saturday, single-lane closures in both directions of SR 16 near the bridge will occur nightly. During the closures, Tacoma Narrows Constructor (TNC) crews will do a variety of paving, striping and signing activities in preparation for opening the bridge.

July 15 - Bridge Opening Celebration

Local Streets and Ramp Close. The following facilities will close during the early morning hours on Sunday to accommodate the celebration:

East side:

• Eastbound SR 16 exit to Jackson Avenue;
• Jackson Avenue itself from the above exit to 6th Avenue (the eastbound Jackson on-ramp remains open and available to people coming from the north side of the highway);
• North 10th Street.

West side:

• 24th Street NW across SR 16 and to Jahn Avenue (the SR 16 ramps at 24th Street remain open). 

Existing Bridge Stays Open. During opening celebrations on the new bridge, all four lanes on the existing bridge will remain open to traffic. Motorists are nonetheless advised to plan extra travel time and expect significant delays on SR 16, since drivers will likely be distracted by people and activities on the new bridge. For more information on opening activities, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr16narrowsbridge/opening/ .

Night Lane Closures. Around 4 p.m., opening ceremonies will come to an end. WSDOT will clear and sweep the bridge and return it to TNC, who will begin a full night’s work to realign the highway on both sides of the bridge. TNC will begin with the eastbound direction first and will reduce eastbound SR 16 to one lane west of the bridge starting around 7 p.m. Once the eastbound shift is complete, TNC will focus on westbound SR 16, reducing that direction to one lane east of the bridge.

July 16 – New Bridge and Other Roadway Facilities Open, Tolling Begins

HOV Lanes Open. The remaining SR 16 HOV segments open, creating continuous eastbound and westbound HOV lanes between Union Avenue and Olympic Drive.

New Bridge Opens in Permanent Configuration. The new bridge opens to eastbound traffic only, and in its final four-lane configuration (with the exception of the bike/pedestrian path – see below):

• left lane opens to 2+ HOVs (vehicles carrying two or more persons and motorcycles);
• two middle lanes – open to all traffic;
• right lane opens as “add/drop” lane, adding at the toll plaza and dropping at the eastbound exit to Jackson Avenue;
• 10-foot right shoulder available for emergency use.

Tolling Begins. Once the traffic shifts are complete on both sides of the bridge, the Washington State Patrol will perform an eastbound rolling slowdown, signaling the beginning of tolling. This operation is scheduled during the early morning hours on Monday. All six manual toll lanes and the Good To Go! express lanes will open to traffic. For more information about tolling, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/goodtogo/.

24th Street NW Eastbound Ramp Opens. The new 24th Street NW eastbound on-ramp near the toll plaza opens to Good To Go! (electronic) tollpayers only. The ramp will be metered during morning commute hours and other times as necessary just like the other eastbound SR 16 on-ramps between the bridge and SR 302.

New Bike/Pedestrian Path Stays Closed. Although the new bridge opens to eastbound vehicles, the new bridge’s bicycle/pedestrian path will remain closed. TNC will continue working under the new bridge’s deck, and will use that area to store equipment and supplies. The bike/pedestrian path will open later this fall or early winter. Until then, bicyclists and pedestrians will be routed to the existing bridge’s north sidewalk.

1950 Bridge Configuration Changes for Interim Construction. Monday, the 1950 bridge will open to three westbound lanes (one HOV lane; two general-purpose lanes). The far left lane of the bridge will remain closed around-the-clock as crews begin work to resurface the existing bridge deck. During night hours and over weekends, TNC may close a second westbound lane. The existing bridge renovation work will continue for up to 10 months.

As with any major change on the state's highways, WSDOT expects eastbound SR 16 traffic to be slow as motorists adjust to the new bridge alignments, the new HOV lanes, and the toll-paying process. WSDOT traffic engineers will monitor traffic patterns along the corridor for several weeks. If necessary, they can activate the newly-installed ramp meters on the eastbound SR 16 on-ramps east of the bridge, and change the operations on the eastbound ramp meters already activated west of the bridge.

For more information on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge project, please visit tacomanarrowsbridge.com or www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr16narrowsbridge/

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