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Why is WSDOT building HOV roadways and HOV direct-access ramps as part of a newly-expanded I-5/SR 16 Nalley Valley interchange?
To increase safety, improve mobility and reduce congestion, WSDOT rebuilt the entire I-5/SR 16 Nalley Valley interchange. The original Nalley Valley interchange was too narrow to carry additional lanes and the unique structure-type prevented widening.
Reconstruction of the interchange was staged to keep people and goods moving. The first two stages of work rebuilt the westbound and eastbound Nalley Valley viaduct bridges. The last stage could not be built until the other two were complete.
The new westbound viaduct and associated westbound ramps opened to traffic in June, 2011. Eastbound construction reached its last major milestone August, 2014 when crews opened two new ramps from South Sprague Avenue to northbound and southbound Interstate 5.
In the third project, WSDOT built new HOV bridges and ramps, and rebuilt and realigned northbound and southbound I-5 approaching SR 16.
This project is one of several that make up a larger program to reduce congestion, improve safety and add HOV lanes in Pierce County. Learn more about the overall Tacoma/Pierce County HOV Program.
The End Result
The HOV Connector project built new bridge structures and direct-access ramps to connect I-5 HOV lanes to SR 16 HOV lanes. These structures are limited solely to HOV traffic,
The HOV Connector project has numerous benefits, including:
Traffic Operations
Environmental
Safety
Financial Data for PIN 300566A
Funding Source Amount ($ in thousands)
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Gaius Sanoy
WSDOT Project Manager
253-365-6700
Cara Mitchell
WSDOT Olympic Region Media Relations
360-357-2703
I-5/SR 16 Nalley Valley interchange in 2014, after both the Westbound and Eastbound jobs are complete.
Nalley Valley interchange in 2020. The final connections are complete between HOV lanes on I-5 and SR 16. The enhanced photo enlargement (pdf 1.5 MB) labels the roadways to show how traffic will move between I-5 and SR 16.