Motorists in the mid-Pierce County area have reason to feel “you can’t get there from here” because of major construction projects. Road projects in the Canyon Road, 112th Street and 176th Street corridors are causing traffic disruptions and congestion.

“Construction activities will cause short time delays and no doubt some frustration to the traveling public,” said project engineering manager Ramiro Chavez. “However, these improvements will provide long-term benefits in easing traffic congestion.”

Traffic delays on 112th Street East from 58th Avenue to Woodland Avenue are causing motorists to seek alternate routes. This east-west arterial is being widened to two lanes in each direction with a two-way center left turn lane and curbs, gutters, and sidewalks. Chavez said that section of road will be closed from about May 1 to the end of the month.

Detour signs will be posted advising of the detour route. Local access will be accommodated during the general closure with some delays to be expected. Woodworth and Company is general contractor.

Motorists can expect construction and utility relocation activities along Canyon Road East from 112th Street to 176th Street for up to three years. That section of roadway has been divided into three contracts, each phased sequentially from south to north.

Both Canyon Road and 176th Street East are being widened at their intersection to provide additional through and turning lanes. This project also includes the curbs, gutters, sidewalks, center medians and traffic signal modifications. This end of Canyon Road is expected to be completed by summer’s end.

Between 144th and 160th streets on Canyon Road, construction activity has begun by shifting traffic from four lanes onto three with intermittent reductions to a single lane in each direction. Completion is anticipated in spring 2007.

Clearing and grubbing will start this summer on Canyon Road between 116th and 144th. That activity will be followed by utility relocation until next spring. Heavy roadway construction will begin in early 2007 and continue during the first part of 2008. Improvements will include concrete curbs, gutters and sidewalks on both sides of the road, a raised center median and new and reconstructed traffic signals.

“We thank the traveling public for their patience during this period of constructing improvements that will provide greater safety and roadway capacity,” Chavez said. “We ask motorists to exercise caution when driving through construction zones and to be aware of construction workers and flaggers, who are serving the public. Their safety is our greatest concern.”

Canyon Road is a major north-south commute route and carries between 27,000 and 38,000 vehicles a day between 116th Street East and 176th Street East. The annual average daily traffic counts for 112th Street East between Canyon Road and Woodland Avenue are 14,000 to 16,000; for 176th Street crossing Canyon Road, between 15,000 and 19,000.