SR 167 Completion Project

Puget Sound Gateway Program: Combining SR 167 and SR 509 completion projects

The SR 167 Completion Project in Pierce County, and the SR 509 Completion Project in King County are jointly funded and managed under the Puget Sound Gateway Program. Combining these large projects maximizes efficiencies in planning, environmental review, design, and construction.

SR 167 Completion Project benefits

• Freight connections. Completes critical freight links between the Port of Tacoma and the manufacturing and industrial areas in Pierce County.
• Regional mobility. Reduces congestion on local roads and highways by providing improved east-west travel.
• Multimodal connections. Connects walking/biking trails, including the Interurban Trail.
• Environmental enhancements. Restores wildlife and aquatic habitat, reduces flooding, improves water quality, and provides access to local pedestrian trails.
• Regional job and economic growth. Supports regional job growth and economic growth associated with the state's two largest ports.
• Intelligent transportation. Electronic tolling on the route will manage congestion, which improves safety and reliability for all users.

Multiple construction stages for the SR 167 Completion Project 2020-2030

First stage of construction (Stage 1a) - Complete  

As part of the SR 167/70th Avenue East Bridge Replacement Project, WSDOT completed a new four-lane bridge over I-5 in Fife, a new multi-lane roundabout connecting the bridge SR 99, 400 feet of the Interurban Trail and a new trail parking lot. In June 2021, the new Wapato Way East Bridge opened, replacing the existing 70th Avenue East Bridge. This video explains how the new bridge makes the future SR 167 possible.

Second stage of construction (Stage 1b) - In progress

Construction began in summer 2022.  Named the SR 167/I-5 to SR 509 New Expressway Project, this stage of development includes:

• A new 2-mile highway that will link I-5 to SR 509 near the Port of Tacoma.
• A new diverging diamond interchange (DDI) over I-5 connecting the interstate to the future SR 167 Expressway.
• Approximately 150 acres of wetland and stream restoration and improvements.
• New interchanges at I-5, 54th Avenue East and the connections to SR 509.
• New sidewalks and a widening of SR 99 from the new roundabout through the existing 70th Avenue East intersection.
• A new 2.5 mile shared-use path from SR 99 to Alexander Avenue East.

Third stage of construction (Stage 2a) - 2025-2028

The third stage of construction will widen SR 167 between North Meridian Avenue and SR 410, build a diverging diamond interchange at North Meridian Avenue, build the embankment between the Puyallup Recreation Center and North Meridian Avenue for the next stage and begin construction on the 12-mile spuyaləpabš Trail, previously referred to as the Tacoma to Puyallup Regional Trail. This section of the expressway is scheduled to open in 2027, with some construction work continuing into 2028. 

Fourth stage of construction (Stage 2b) - 2026-2030

This stage will build SR 167 between the Puyallup Recreation Center and I-5, complete the diverging diamond interchange at I-5, build six new bridges, a new half-interchange at Valley Avenue, build the rest of the spuyaləpabš Trail and perform 113 acres of wetland mitigation and restoration. This section of the expressway is scheduled to open to traffic in 2029, with some construction continuing into 2030.

About the spuyaləpabš Trail 

The spuyaləpabš Trail is a 12-mile regional shared-use path that will connect downtown Puyallup to Fife and downtown Tacoma. This path will provide people who live and work in the area with a new option to travel without a motorized vehicle. 

The spuyaləpabš Trail provides a crucial opportunity to honor the tribal history and culture of this region. As the historic stewards of the land where the SR 167 expressway and trail will reside, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians took the lead in identifying and proposing the trail name. Other agencies and jurisdictions collaborating on the trail plan and alignment enthusiastically endorsed the name in December 2023.

spuyaləpabš is the Lushootseed name for the Puyallup People, translated as “People from the bend at the bottom of the river.” The name spuyaləpabš is also associated with the Puyallup people’s welcoming and generous behavior. There are 13 tribes in the Pacific Northwest that speak Lushootseed which has a written alphabet of 13 characters, and many of the sounds are non-English sounds that cannot be expressed with the English alphabet. The Puyallup Tribe has created a video to help people learn how to correctly pronounce spuyaləpabš.

The trail will feature artwork by Coastal Salish artists that highlight the stories and history of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians. It will also include benches, signage, lighting and design features that highlight key areas along the trail.