TACOMA, Wash. — Quick Facts:
- Pacific Avenue Bridge over I-5 will be demolished and rebuilt
- Project will result in a new northbound SR 7/I-705 bridge
- Will also widen I-5 to accommodate HOV lanes from M Street to about the L Street Bridge
- Work expected to last a year
A major construction project will start in Tacoma in the middle of the Monday evening commute.
The Pacific Avenue Bridge over Interstate 5 will be demolished and rebuilt in order to add HOV lanes to I-5.
The construction will last a year and is expected to cause traffic congestion.
The massive project will result in a new northbound SR 7/I-705 bridge and will widen I-5 to accommodate north and southbound HOV lanes from M Street to about the L Street Bridge.
But during the year-long undertaking, Pacific Avenue over I-5 will not be an option.
The Washington State Department of Transportation knows that will cause congestion. Drivers will have to take the long way around by accessing the M Street Bridge.
Next spring, WSDOT will do the same thing for the McKinley Bridge and detour drivers over the new Pacific Avenue Bridge.
The end goal is a faster commute.
The entire project will take about three years to complete.
KIRO
