Last week, crews for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) began to focus their attention on demolition activities related to the old westbound Nalley Valley Viaduct section spanning South Tacoma Way. This week, demolition crews have moved their operation to South Center Street, where lane closures will be in effect through Saturday morning.

The Eastbound Nalley Valley project received $7.8 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to accelerate preliminary engineering.

According to WSDOT officials, the original Nalley Valley structures were too narrow to carry additional lanes. The unique tetrapod piers that supported the existing Nalley Valley Viaduct prevented widening the structure. The I-5/SR 16 Eastbound Nalley Valley project is the second of three projects that rebuild the Nalley Valley Viaduct. The first project, Westbound Nalley Valley, is now open to traffic. The third project, the I-5/SR 16 HOV Connectors, will be built between 2020 and 2023 and will provide HOV connections between I-5 and SR 16. For more information, visit http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/PierceCountyHOV/SR16_EBNalleyValley .

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Nalley Valley eastbound viaduct project begins (10/30/11) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=2060647&more=0

WSDOT: $74M Nalley Valley, State Route 16 project ahead (09/23/11) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=2041784&more=0

Westbound Nalley Valley Viaduct opens to drivers (06/27/11) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1997976&more=0

Westbound Nalley Valley Viaduct opens June 25 (06/21/11) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1995423&more=0