Highway 16 construction expected to snarl weekend traffic
Jan 2, 2014, 11:20 AM | Updated: Jan 7, 2014, 10:14 pm
Traffic is expected to come to a grinding halt on Highway 16 in Tacoma over the weekend as crews finish up construction on the SR 16 Eastbound Nalley Valley project.
“We expect traffic backups, particularly on Sunday afternoon, to be substantial. In fact, they could go all the way back to Tacoma Narrows Bridge,” said Doug Adamson, spokesperson for the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Lanes on eastbound SR 16 and the southbound I-5 exit to South 38th Street will close Friday at 10 p.m. while crews begin the process of “relocating eastbound SR 16 traffic from a temporary viaduct onto the new permanent viaduct near I-5,” according to the WSDOT.
On a typical weekend, the WSDOT estimates over 100,000 vehicles travel that stretch of eastbound SR 16. It’s recommended drivers avoid driving the area or at least combine trips.
The closures will be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Closure details:
10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 3
• Close all lanes of eastbound SR 16 at South Union Avenue (detour via Union);
• Close South Union Avenue on-ramp to eastbound SR 16;
• Close southbound I-5 exit to South 38th Street.
7:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 4
• Open two lanes of eastbound SR 16. One lane will take motorists to northbound I-5; the other lane will take motorists to southbound I-5.
• Open South Union Avenue on-ramp to eastbound SR 16;
• Open southbound I-5 exit to South 38th Street.
10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4
• Close all lanes of eastbound SR 16 at South Union Avenue (detour via Union);
• Close South Union Avenue on-ramp to eastbound SR 16;
• Close southbound I-5 exit to South 38th Street.
11:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 5
• Open one lane of eastbound SR 16, detour all eastbound SR 16 traffic onto southbound I-5. Motorists wishing to reach northbound I-5 will be detoured via South 56th Street interchange.
• Open South Union Avenue on-ramp to eastbound SR 16;
• Open southbound I-5 exit to South 38th Street.
10 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 5
• Close all lanes of eastbound SR 16 at South Union Avenue (detour via Union);
• Close South Union Avenue on-ramp to eastbound SR 16;
• Close southbound I-5 exit to South 38th Street.
4 a.m. Monday, Jan. 6
• Open all ramps and roadways. Eastbound SR 16 motorists will be driving, for the first time, on the new permanent eastbound SR 16 viaduct.
