Date:  Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Contact:
Troy Watts, field engineer, (253) 255-8215
Lisa Copeland, region communication manager (360) 357-2789

TACOMA – The Nalley Valley gets a new look and feel this weekend as westbound SR 16 traffic shifts onto a new temporary roadway, and the off-ramp to Sprague Avenue closes for the remainder of the project.

As traffic revisions started last week resume this weekend, which means slowdowns continue and motorists should plan for delays and congestion from both directions of I-5 to SR 16; from I-705 to southbound I-5; and westbound SR 16 at Union Avenue.

“Tacoma-area drivers should definitely plan ahead for this traffic revision,” said Kevin Dayton, region administrator. “Shifting traffic and closing the last connection between SR 16 and Sprague Avenue will cause even more congestion on roadways leading to westbound SR 16.”

The weather-dependent work closes westbound SR 16 overnight from 10 p.m. Saturday, March 20 to 10 a.m. Sunday, March 21. During the closure, crews will construct crossover pavement between the existing westbound and eastbound viaducts. They will also complete placement of the traffic barrier and finalize the detour lane striping.

Once this work is complete, westbound traffic will be rerouted to the temporary roadway, allowing crews to construct the tie-ins from the new viaduct structure to the existing westbound roadway. The Sprague Avenue exit, which carries 12,000 vehicles a day, will remain closed through project completion in spring 2011.

One of the biggest challenges for crews building the new westbound Nalley Valley structure is keeping traffic moving. An average of 65,000 vehicles travel westbound on the viaduct each day.

While disruptive, the work is a sign that this $120 million project is progressing. This project is funded by the 2003 Nickel transportation package, employs about 200 construction workers and supports an estimated 620 jobs.

Once the project is complete, new westbound bridges and Sprague Avenue ramps eliminate one of Pierce County’s worst bottlenecks and reduce collisions by an estimated 60 percent, or 16 fewer per year.

For more information, visit http://www.tacomatraffic.com/ .

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WSDOT keeps people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or by dialing 5-1-1.

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