The SR 509 Completion Project in King County is part of the Puget Sound Gateway Program, which also includes the SR 167 Completion Project in Pierce County. Together, these projects complete two of the Puget Sound region’s most critical freight corridors and improve access to I-5, the ports of Tacoma and Seattle and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The SR 509 Completion Project builds a new four-lane expressway between I-5 and SR 509's current end near Sea-Tac Airport, builds new I-5 ramps, improves I-5 interchanges in south King County and constructs new bridges. When complete, the project will create an important north-south alternative to the congested I-5 corridor between Seattle and south King County.
Timeline
2015-2028
Project status
Construction
Funding
$2.38 billion funds both the SR 509 Completion Project in King County and the SR 167 Completion Project in Pierce County.
Construction on Stage 1b of the project is currently underway.
SR 516/I-5 Interchange: Through spring 2023, construction crews will construct new pavement for I-5, which will allow I-5 to stay open to traffic while crews start excavation for a new undercrossing at Veterans Drive. Expect both daytime and nighttime construction, with night lane reductions on I-5.
Northbound I-5, from SR 516 to the vicinity of South 211th Street: Through spring 2023, crews will pave the new portion of I-5, which will allow crews to set the girders on the new bridges for the SR 509 connection and 216th Avenue.
The SR 509 Completion Project builds three new miles of SR 509 and completes the unfinished SR 509 in south King County. This new four-lane highway will become an important north-south alternative to the congested I-5 corridor between Seattle and south King County. The new segment of SR 509 will be called an expressway and will be tolled at one electronic toll point (no tollbooths).
Puget Sound Gateway Program: Combining SR 509 and SR 167
In 2015, the Washington state Legislature funded the SR 509 Completion Project in King County and SR 167 Completion Project in Pierce County jointly, under the Puget Sound Gateway Program. Combining both of these large projects helps maximize efficiencies in planning, environmental review, design and construction.
SR 509 Completion Project benefits:
Freight connections. Completes critical freight links between the Port of Seattle and key distribution, warehouse, and industrial centers in King County.
Regional mobility. Reduces traffic congestion on local roads and highways by completing connections between Seattle and the Kent Valley. Provides an alternate route to I-5 in south King County.
Airport access. Provides a new connection between I-5 and Sea-Tac Airport from the south for both passengers and air cargo.
Regional job and economic growth. Supports regional job growth and economic growth associated with the state's two largest seaports and airport.
Intelligent transportation. Electronic tolling on the route will manage congestion, which improves safety and reliability for all users.
Advanced wetland mitigation. Improves water quality and wildlife habitat by completing environmental improvements in advance of the project.
Three construction stages for the SR 509 Completion Project (2020-2028)
This map illustrates the SR 509 Completion Project's construction stages. Stage 1a is
shown in orange, Stage 1b is highlighted in blue and Stage 2 is shown in magenta.
Stage 1a - Open to traffic
For Stage 1a of the SR 509 Completion Project, WSDOT partnered with Sound Transit’s Federal Way Link Extension project to build a new SR 99 bridge near South 208th Street and new walls to reduce noise to nearby neighborhoods. The partnership reduces construction impacts by building both projects at the same time. The SR 99 bridge was opened to traffic in July 2022.
Stage 1b - In progress
Stage 1b of the SR 509 Completion Project, called the SR 509/I-5 to 24th Avenue South – New Expressway Project, builds the first mile of new SR 509 Expressway, new I-5 ramps, new interchanges and a new bridge. Project visualizations are available on our Flickr pageand WSDOT's Fall 2021 online open house. This stage of construction is expected to be complete in 2025.
Stage 2 - 2024-2028
Stage 2 of the SR 509 Completion Project, called the SR 509/24th Avenue South to South 188th Street – New Expressway Project, is the project's final stage. In Stage 2, WSDOT will build the remaining two miles of new SR 509 Expressway, reconfigure SR 509 interchanges at South 188th and South 160th Streets and add a southbound auxiliary lane on I-5 between SR 516 and South 272nd Street. Project visualizations are available on our Flickr pageand WSDOT's Spring 2022 online open house. Construction is expected to start in 2024 and end in 2028.
2020-2028: Sequenced construction to complete SR 509 in south King County
Milestone
Winter 2020
Construction begins on stage 1a of the SR 509 Completion Project
November 2021
Work begins on stage 1b of the SR 509 Completion Project: The SR 509/I-5 to 24th Avenue South–New Expressway Project
Winter 2022
Substantial completion of stage 1a of the SR 509 Completion Project
Spring 2024
Expected start of stage 2 (final stage) of the SR 509 Completion Project, which builds the final 2 miles of new SR 509 Expressway
2025
Expected completion of stage 1b. The first mile of SR 509 Expressway opens, which will be tolled
2028
Expected completion date for the SR 509 Completion Project
The Puget Sound Gateway Program has $2.38 billion in funding from four sources:
Stage 1a builds a new SR 99 bridge over the future SR 509 Expressway. Light rail will travel above.
Sound Transit is building the SR 99 bridge for WSDOT as part of the Federal Way Link Extension.
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This map points to improvements during Stage 1b of the SR 509 Completion Project between
Kent and SeaTac in south King County.
This visualization shows the first new mile of SR 509 and connecting ramps to I-5 and a new S. 216th
Street bridge over I-5 that will also includes sidewalks and bike paths on both sides.
This visualization shows the first new section of the SR 509 Expressway along with a new
interchange at 24th Avenue South in SeaTac.
This visualization shows a rebuilt I-5/SR 516 (Kent-Des Moines Road) interchange along with
an extended Veterans Drive, which will improve traffic flow in the Kent area.
The new SR 509 Expressway will be built in two stages. This map shows the planned route for
the SR 509 corridor from I-5 to the current end of SR 509 at the southwest corner of Sea-Tac Airport.
SR 509 procurement
On March 1, 2023, WSDOT issued a request for qualifications for the SR 509, 24th Avenue South to South 188th Street – New Expressway Project. For more information and to sign-up to receive procurement notices, please visit the project's contract ad and award webpage.
SR 509 online open houses
WSDOT's spring 2022 online open house presented conceptual designs for Stage 2 of the SR 509 Completion Project and includes the public release of the SR 509 Completion Project introduction video. The open house is available in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, English, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. The comment period for this open house has closed.
WSDOT's fall 2021 online open house presented designs and potential construction impacts of Stage 1b of the SR 509 Completion Project. The open house is available in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, English, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. The comment period for this open house has closed.
