Transit briefs: Lane, ramp closures scheduled for I-5

June 6, 2016 12:24 pm

 

  • HOV project through Tacoma continues on I-5
  • DHL begins Sea-Tac service
  • Sound Transit replacing aging trestle
  • Sumner station improvements
  • Sounder maintenance base selected

Drivers can expect a series of night lane and ramp closures on Tacoma area highways, including Interstate 5, to accommodate construction of new I-5 HOV lanes in Tacoma and Fife. 

Lane closures: 

Weeknight single- and double-lane closures in both directions of I-5 between M Street and Port of Tacoma Road.

 Ramp closures: 

Southbound SR 167 (River Road) on-ramp to southbound I-5, Monday, June 6, to Saturday, June 11, 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. the following morning.

Southbound I-5 exit to westbound SR 16/South 38th Street, Monday, June 6, 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Drivers will detour via the I-5/South 56th Street interchange.

Southbound Interstate 705 and Pacific Avenue on-ramps to southbound I-5, Monday, June 6,  10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Pacific Avenue on-ramp to southbound I-5, Tuesday, June 7, 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Northbound I-5 collector-distributor exit to northbound I-705 and southbound SR 7, Tuesday, June 7 to Saturday, June 11, 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.

East 28th Street on-ramp to northbound I-5, Thursday, June 9 and Friday, June 10, 8:30 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Southbound I-5 exit to Berkeley Street in Lakewood, Monday, June 6, 10 p.m.-4 a.m., for off-ramp paving.

– Washington State DOT

 

DHL begins daily cargo service at Sea-Tac

DHL, the world’s leading international express services provider, began cargo flights to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport the first week of June. DHL is relocating from Boeing Field to access Sea-Tac’s enhanced cargo facilities.

DHL will operate 20 flights per week using Boeing 757 and 767 freighter aircraft. The addition of DHL marks the seventh new air carrier to announce service at Sea-Tac in 2016. This includes cargo carriers Lufthansa Cargo (operated by AeroLogic) and ABX Air, along with passenger service from Spirit (started in March), Volaris and Xiamen slated to begin later in the year. Virgin Atlantic also just announced service to Sea-Tac beginning in 2017.

– Port of Seattle

Sound Transit breaks ground on modern railroad trestle to replace 100-year-old bridge

Sound Transit broke ground on its Tacoma Trestle Track & Signal Project, June 1, which will replace an aging single-track timber railroad trestle with a concrete, double-track bridge.

“More than a century ago, this timber trestle helped establish Tacoma’s regional significance in commerce and transportation,” says Sound Transit Board Vice Chair and Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland. “Replacing it with a modern, double-track bridge will improve efficiency and decrease delays as more trains and people move through this busy rail corridor.”

The $120.5 million project, scheduled for completion in 2018, will replace the timber trestle along a 0.65-mile section of track between the Tacoma Dome and East M Street. The project includes demolition of the existing trestle, construction of new tracks and roadway improvements.

The trestle currently serves 10 roundtrip Sounder south line weekday trains and special game day trains for select Seahawks, Mariners and Sounders FC events. In the 2008 ST2 ballot measure, voters approved four additional Sounder roundtrips on the south line. The first of these began operating in 2013. A mid-day train will start in September and two peak-service trains will be added in 2017.

– Sound Transit

SR 167-SR 410 nighttime ramp closures for pavement repairs

Southbound SR 167 exit to West Valley Highway/24th Street East and West Valley Highway on-ramp to southbound SR 167,  Tuesday, June 7, 8:30 p.m.-5:30 a.m.

The Traffic Avenue on-ramp to westbound SR 410, Thursday, June 9,  8:30 p.m.-5:30 a.m.

– Washington State DOT 

Sound Transit selects pedestrian, parking improvements for Sumner Sounder station

The Sound Transit Board of Directors on May 26 approved a new parking garage, sidewalk and lighting improvements at the Sumner Sounder station to improve transit rider access to the station.

Access improvements for the $52.4 million project include a new, 600-plus-stall parking garage at the current station parking site, sidewalk and lighting improvements. 234 surface-lot spaces located south of Maple Street, north of Maple Street and at the Red Apple building will remain. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2019 and be complete by 2021.

– Sound Transit

Sound Transit selects site for Sounder maintenance base

Lakewood was selected on May 26, by the Sound Transit Board of Directors, as the location for a new Sounder vehicle maintenance base.

The 40,000 square-foot facility will be constructed at a rail yard along the Sounder railroad right-of-way between Steilacoom Boulevard Southwest and 100th Street Southwest in Lakewood.

– Sound Transit

Gasoline prices up

Average retail gasoline prices in Tacoma have risen 2.5 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.61 Sunda\y, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 271 gas outlets in Tacoma. The national average has increased 3.9 cents per gallon to $2.36.

Prices Sunday were 46.8 cents per gallon lower than the same day last year and 12.2 cents higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 14.2 cents per gallon in May.

Gas prices in Seattle were $2.65, up 1.8 cents per gallon from last week, while Yakima prices averaged $2.54.

— GasBuddy.com