A compilation of prioritized transportation improvement projects is now ready for public review and comment through Tuesday, Dec. 19. More than 1,200 statewide transportation improvement projects using $3.8 billion in federal funds are included in the 2024-2027 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, or STIP for short. The draft 2024-2027 STIP is a four-year program of multimodal transportation projects […]
I-5 HOV project in Pierce County aims to reduce bridge strikes on JBLM
It happened again. On November 3, a semi-truck got stuck on Pendleton Avenue under Interstate 5 in Pierce County. It’s the fourth bridge strike this year at this location. Every time it happens, we hope that the damage is superficial because those bridge girders are holding up the lanes of I-5. So far, we’ve been […]
Virtual public meeting for draft 2024 Highway System Plan on Nov. 30
The public will have an opportunity to ask questions and comment on the draft 2024 Highway System Plan during a virtual public meeting hosted by the Washington State Department of Transportation on Thursday, Nov. 30. The online meeting will be hosted on Microsoft Teams and the meeting link can be found on the Highway System Plan […]
Eastbound SR 512 exit to Canyon Road closes over two nights
PUYALLUP – Overnight travelers who use the eastbound State Route 512 exit to Canyon Road in Puyallup will want to build extra time into their trips. 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday Nov. 20-21 until 5 a.m. each following day This work is weather dependent and could be rescheduled. The closure allows contractors working for a […]
Creating our recommendation for the Highway System Plan
Written by James Detke The Highway System Plan is used to make investment recommendations to the Legislature that will result in a future highway system that is sound, safe and smart. This plan used scenario planning to test how different funding levels would affect different outcomes. To create our final recommendation, we worked with transportation […]
Bridge building on SR 99 in Fife requires long-term bypass for northbound traffic
FIFE – Construction of a new bridge on State Route 99 in Fife begins in mid-November and it requires a long-term traffic shift. Beginning Tuesday, Nov. 21 a two-lane bypass, or shoofly, will be in place on northbound SR 99 through September 2024. The bypass will begin just north of the Wapato Way roundabout and […]
Think operating a plow in winter is easy? Think again
Nope, they aren’t Bentleys. They’re better than Bentleys. Take a trip with us behind the driver’s seat during plow operator training on the west side of the state. To do this, we’ll need a bit of audience participation. Pretend you’re a first-year maintenance worker this winter. You’ve completed all your training, got your commercial driver’s license […]
Eastbound SR 512 exit to Canyon Road will close overnight Nov. 16
PUYALLUP – Overnight travelers who use the eastbound State Route 512 exit to Canyon Road in Puyallup will want to build extra time into their trips. From 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16 until 5 a.m. Friday, Nov. 17, the exit will close to all traffic while contractors working for a developer in the area pave […]
Overnight I-5 lane and ramp closures planned for week of Nov. 13 in DuPont
DUPONT – Nighttime travelers will want to plan extra travel time for Interstate 5 lane and ramp closures near DuPont the week of Nov. 13. Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will repair guardrail and continue construction at the Steilacoom-DuPont Road interchange. The overnight closures also affect access to and from the Ft. […]