Drivers who use the State Route 16 Tacoma Narrows Bridge are encouraged to plan ahead for weekend and weeknight delays in late August and early September.
During the weekends of Aug. 26 -29 and Sept. 9 -12, contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will reduce SR 16 to two lanes in each direction at the Tacoma Narrows Bridge for bridge paving.
To keep traffic moving, the eastbound lanes of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge will be used to carry both eastbound and westbound traffic across the Narrows.
Reducing eastbound SR 16 to two lanes will occur in phases starting at 6 p.m. each Friday.
The two westbound SR 16 lanes will be detoured onto the eastbound bridge. That shift will also occur in phases starting at 8 p.m. each Friday.
Crews will close the 24th Street on-ramp to eastbound SR 16 and the westbound SR 16 exit to 24th Street. The Jackson Street on-ramp to westbound SR 16 may also need to be closed. The ramps will be closed at 7 p.m. each Friday.
The highway speed limit will be temporarily reduced at the bridge over both weekends from 60 mph to 35 mph.
All lanes and ramps will reopen by 5 a.m. each following Monday morning.
Drivers can expect nighttime eastbound lane closures between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 29, through Thursday, Sept. 1, as contractor crews repave the eastbound lanes of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The westbound bridge will be open to westbound traffic during that time.
– Washington State DOT
Gem Heights Drive East to be resurfaced Aug. 22-26
Gem Heights Drive East will be resurfaced between Silver Creek Avenue East and Meridian Avenue East from Aug. 22-26.
The road will remain open, although it will be reduced to one lane with alternating traffic. Motorists should expect 15-minute delays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The work may be postponed if it rains.
In order to extend the life of the pavement and improve the condition of the roadway, crews will remove and replace two inches of the existing pavement.
Crews previously upgraded curb ramps along this section of Gem Heights Drive East to bring them into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
– Pierce County
Roosevelt Avenue asphalt repairs Aug. 29 – 31
Starting Monday, Aug. 29, through Wednesday, Aug. 31, the City of Tacoma’s Street Operations Division will perform street repairs on East Roosevelt Avenue from East Morton to East Sherman streets and East 32nd Street to East Wright Avenue.
On these dates these roads will be completely closed to all traffic. Detours will be in place and local and emergency vehicles will have access to the area via alleyways. All repairs are weather dependent and could be rescheduled.
– City of Tacoma
Pacific Avenue overpass open
The new Pacific Avenue bridge at Interstate 5 has opened to one lane of traffic in each direction. The overpass is also open for use by bicyclists and pedestrians.
Crews will continue work to complete the overpass. The bridge ultimately will have a four-lane configuration, a 6-foot-wide sidewalk and a 14-foot-wide shared-use path.
The East McKinely Way overpass is closed to allow for demolition and rebuilding. The project is expected to last 18 months. Drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians will detour to Pacific Avenue.
– Washington State DOT
