Crews in final stretch of construction on new Puyallup River bridge over SR 167
Jun 23, 2015, 8:36 AM | Updated: 9:09 am
By this time next week, drivers on SR 167 will cross the Puyallup River on a new bridge. (WSDOT image)
(WSDOT image)
The end is in sight for a major construction project on SR 167 over the Puyallup River. By this time next week, drivers will cross the river on a new bridge.
Construction on the bridge — which most locals call the Meridian Bridge and that you take at the end of 167 as you transition to River Road into Tacoma — started about a year ago. The 90-year-old steel truss bridge was falling apart. Damage to the beams underneath was so bad that trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds had to use the right lane only.
“It’s structurally deficient, it’s functionally obsolete,” said Doug Adamson with the Washington State Department of Transportation. “There are narrow lanes on there for truckers. This has a load restriction on this very important corridor through there.”
Adamson said the new bridge will come with all the bells and whistles.
“Wider lanes, it also has better accommodations for people who are pedestrians and bicyclists – much wider sidewalks. It will also be ADA accessible for the first time.”
But to reach the finish line on the project, there will be major closures this week.
“In order to connect from the old bridge to the new bridge, we’re going to have to build the road connection through there, requiring the complete closure of the northbound SR 167 Meridian Bridge. That will be getting underway this coming Friday.”
Alternating lane closures begin Thursday night. The closures last through Monday morning.
