SR 16 - New Tacoma Narrows Bridge

	Click image to enlarge The construction area for this project extends from Jackson Avenue in Tacoma to 36th Street NW in Gig Harbor.
	Our 'Parallel' Future Imagine a twin bridge just 185 feet south of the 1950 span. This virtual view is a preview of the parallel bridge to that is scheduled to open in summer 2007. Rendering of twin bridges is courtesy of Tacoma Narrows Constructors
	Project Facts • New bridge deck is 5,400 feet in total length, 2,800 in the main span. • Towers and caissons designed for second deck (either road or light rail) to be added in the future. •     New concrete towers 510 feet high (8,000 cubic yards of concrete each).

July 8, 2008 Bridge Open, Tolling Begins Check out pictures of the opening day event. Bicyclists and Pedestrian Benefits -- Have common questions about new bridge bike and pedestrian bridge access? Environmental Addendum : WSDOT considers modifying final westbound roadway configuration to four lanes pending additional environmental documentation.

Overview
After seven years in early development, the political arena and the courts, and another five years in design and construction, the new Narrows bridge opened to traffic on July 16, 2007. It was built parallel to and south of the 1950 Narrows Bridge, and carries four 11-foot-wide lanes of eastbound traffic toward Tacoma. The left lane is a high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lane, the two center lanes are general purpose lanes open to all traffic, and the right lane is an "add/drop" lane that extends across the bridge to the Jackson Avenue eastbound exit. In addition, the bridge has a 10-foot right shoulder for disabled vehicles, and a 10-foot barrier-separated bicycle/pedestrian lane that will open later in the year.

Work on the new bridge will continue under the deck, and night single-lane closures will still occur. The bicycle/pedestrian path on the new bridge will serve as a construction staging area, and it will remain closed until later this fall. In the meantime, bicyclists and pedestrians will be routed to the north sidewalk of the 1950 bridge.

Crews will also focus on the 1950 bridge, where they will spend the next 10 months resurfacing the bridge deck and upgrading bridge rail. Simultaneous with the opening of the new bridge, the 1950 bridge opened to three lanes of westbound traffic (one HOV lane and two general-purpose lanes). The far left lane will remain closed around-the-clock, and at nights and over some weekends a second westbound lane will be closed for the resurfacing work.

The opening of the new bridge separates opposing traffic for the first time over the Narrows. It also signals the onset of tolling in western Washington since the Hood Canal bridge toll was removed in 1985. The first few days have been an unqualified success.

Why did WSDOT build another Tacoma Narrows Bridge?
The short answer is that the second bridge and related roadway improvements will improve the ability of people and freight to move more reliably and safely within the corridor. More specifically, growing congestion is a problem on the State Route (SR) 16 corridor; existing rush hour traffic is substantially greater than the roadway’s capacity. Today, and on a daily basis, 85,000 to 90,000 vehicles use the SR 16 corridor. WSDOT estimated that without a second bridge, freeway use would grow to 120,000 vehicles a day by 2020. However, construction of a toll suspension bridge parallel to the existing span likely will result in fewer vehicles crossing the Narrows. In light of this reality, by 2020 it’s estimated that 95,000 vehicles daily will travel east and west on SR 16. Sometime in the future, when and if it becomes necessary, the new bridge is designed to accommodate a second deck.

Project Benefits

• Safety - Separating oncoming traffic will significantly improve safety across the Tacoma Narrows. Additional safety improvements include wider lanes and new safety shoulders.
• Congestion - The operational improvements along the SR 16 corridor between the Nalley Valley viaduct in Tacoma and the Olympic Drive interchange in Gig Harbor will help reduce delays across the Tacoma Narrows.

Environmental Protection
An environmental impact statement has been prepared and is available at local libraries. Some of the more important environmental improvements addressed by the project include:

• Relocating the existing Living War Memorial Park
• Providing new and improved storm water collection facilities
• Removing creosote pilings from Titlow Beach
• Recreating and protecting existing wetlands
• Developing and monitoring a new deep-water environment for bottom fish

For more information visit WSDOT Environmental Services.

Increasing safety is one of our priorities
This project significantly increases safety along the SR 16 corridor by separating oncoming traffic, adding safety shoulders and providing a barrier-separated bicycle/pedestrian path across the new bridge.

Will this project impact tribal lands?
At WSDOT we seek to address the concerns of the tribal nations using the process outlined in Section 106 of The National Historic Preservation Act and the WSDOT Tribal Consultation Policy adopted in 2003 by the Transportation Commission as part of the WSDOT Centennial Accord Plan.

The Puyallup, Muckleshoot, Squaxin Island, Nisqually, Skokomish and Suquamish Indian Tribes were consulted concerning the cultural resource issues for the Environmental Impact Statement and the Unanticipated Discovery Plan.

For more information visit our WSDOT Tribal Liaison website.

Financial Information
This project started construction in 2003. Its current overall cost estimate is $849 million.

About $800 million of tax-exempt bond financing is required to support the proposed Tacoma Narrows Bridge project. The state has funded $50 million and provided certain tax exemptions and tax deferrals that help to reduce the project costs. The Washington State Transportation Commission will determine the actual toll amounts and schedule by spring 2007. The bridge financial plan assumes an initial $3 toll for the first year, but the Commission will consider this assumed toll amount along with a possible reduced toll for Good to Go! ™ (electronic toll) users. All toll setting and adjustments will be made according to a schedule to be determined by the Commission.

Expenditure Plan
This project is funded through the following sources:
Existing Funds - $771,408,998*
Total Funding Available From All Sources - $771,408,998
(* - Includes $11 million expended for right of way acquisition and existing bridge inspections prior to the 2002 legislative authorization changing the project from private financing to public funding.

How can I get more information?
Contact:
WSDOT Tacoma Narrows Bridge Project Office
3214 50th Street Court NW
Building D, Suite 302
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
Phone: toll-free 1-877-762-7769
E-mail: orfeedback@wsdot.wa.gov

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