Date:  Thursday, October 16, 2008

Contact: Kim Mueller, WSDOT Assistant Project Engineer, 360-412-3422
             Emily Pace, WSDOT Communications, 360-357-2716

SPANAWAY – The east-end of the future SR 704 cross-base highway is taking shape in Pierce County as crews prepare for a second weekend closure of Spanaway Loop Road from 174th Street to SR 7.

This weekend’s closure begins 9 p.m. Friday. Only emergency vehicles and local residents will be able to access Spanaway Loop Road. Work crews will re-open the roadway by 5 a.m. Monday.

The paving work is weather dependent. If weather conditions are favorable and work progresses as expected, crews may re-open Spanaway Loop Road before Monday morning.

During the closure, crews will pave the connection from the existing roadway to the new alignment. When Spanaway Loop Road re-opens Monday morning, drivers will notice traffic has been shifted onto new pavement, allowing the next phase of construction to begin. The traffic shift remains in place until next spring.

Contractor Ceccanti, Inc. will now shift work to the north side of Spanaway Loop Road. Upcoming work items include building a noise wall and continuing excavation and grading work on stormwater ponds.

The $7.35 million project is moving ahead on-schedule, with completion scheduled for spring 2009. Work began in July 2008 on the project that widens Spanaway Loop Road at SR 7 to five lanes, including dual right turn-lanes from Spanaway Loop Road to SR 7.

This is the first of five independent projects that build the SR 704 cross-base highway in Pierce County. The planned six-mile, multi-lane highway stretches east to west between Fort Lewis and McChord military bases, connecting SR 7 to I-5. The remaining SR 704 projects will be completed as funding becomes available.

For more project information visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR704/CrossBase/default.htm.

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