U.S. Senator Patty Murray and many others will celebrate the groundbreaking of the D Street Overpass at 2:15 p.m. on April 19 at 2101 E. Dock St., Tacoma.

East D Street serves as a major corridor for rail and truck freight and for people wanting to access the revitalized Thea Foss Waterway. Once completed, the $22.5 million D Street Overpass will separate train and motor vehicle traffic by raising the roadway over the railroad tracks. The overpass will provide for realignment of the railroad tracks to ease the curve around the end of the Thea Foss Waterway—allowing train traffic to move at a higher speed. Vehicle traffic, which includes trucks carrying freight, no longer will need to wait for the trains that frequently block D Street traffic. The project also will create a pedestrian connection between the Dome District and the Thea Foss Waterway esplanade and parks.

“The hard work and coordination from our funding partners is what finally made this project a possibility,” said Mayor Bill Baarsma. “This groundbreaking will be our chance to thank each of them personally, and celebrate with the communities that will be united by the overpass.”

The D Street Overpass funding partners are:

— Burlington Northern Santa Fe

— Economic Development Administration

— Federal Highways Administration

— Freight Action Strategy

— Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board

— Port of Tacoma

— Puget Sound Regional Council

— Sound Transit

— Surface Transportation Urban Landscape

— Transportation Improvement Board

— Union Pacific

The public is welcome to attend this event.