2008 Woodie Awards
Proposed highway will kill squirrels but relieve traffic
Johanna Wallner
Issue date: 3/30/07 Section: News
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A controversial proposed highway project in south Pierce County would ease traffic battlenecks, but also would threaten the habitat of several animals. Appearing on the ballot this upcoming fall, the project has created active debate among Tacoma residents.
The SR 704 Cross-Base Highway project proposes to provide an east-west link between I-5 and Pacific Avenue (SR 7) of south Pierce County. Presently, these two roads are linked at SR 512, which additionally links I-5 to McChord Air Force Base and Fort Lewis.
However, it is recognized that SR 512 is presently over-burdened. The areas south of SR 512-Parkland, Spanaway, Frederickson, Lakewood and South Hill - are fast-growing areas in Pierce County. Presently, their population is three-quarters the size of the city of Tacoma.
Carrying 35,000 new cars per day, the Cross-Base Highway could alleviate traffic congestion in these areas of south Pierce County. Furthermore, by making a new connecting link between McChord and Fort Lewis, the project could accommodate future growth of the military bases.
The proposal for the six mile highway splits the SR 704 Cross-Base Highway project into phases. The first phase would make improvements to the Spanaway Loop and Pacific Avenue intersection while the additional phases include a new Thorne Lane access to the freeway and SR 704, a southbound frontage road from Gravelly Lake Drive to Thorne Lane and initial construction of a six mile, four lane limited access highway.
Initially proposed in 1986, the Cross-Base Highway is proposed to begin construction in 2008. Completion of the project will hopefully occur in 2017, though this is greatly dependent on the financing and voters' approval of the project.
The project costs an estimated $477 million. So far $43 million has been allocated for the project from gas taxes and other state funding. The rest of the amount has yet to be raised. Consequently, this highway project has created great debate within the Tacoma community.
The SR 704 Cross-Base Highway project proposes to provide an east-west link between I-5 and Pacific Avenue (SR 7) of south Pierce County. Presently, these two roads are linked at SR 512, which additionally links I-5 to McChord Air Force Base and Fort Lewis.
However, it is recognized that SR 512 is presently over-burdened. The areas south of SR 512-Parkland, Spanaway, Frederickson, Lakewood and South Hill - are fast-growing areas in Pierce County. Presently, their population is three-quarters the size of the city of Tacoma.
Carrying 35,000 new cars per day, the Cross-Base Highway could alleviate traffic congestion in these areas of south Pierce County. Furthermore, by making a new connecting link between McChord and Fort Lewis, the project could accommodate future growth of the military bases.
The proposal for the six mile highway splits the SR 704 Cross-Base Highway project into phases. The first phase would make improvements to the Spanaway Loop and Pacific Avenue intersection while the additional phases include a new Thorne Lane access to the freeway and SR 704, a southbound frontage road from Gravelly Lake Drive to Thorne Lane and initial construction of a six mile, four lane limited access highway.
Initially proposed in 1986, the Cross-Base Highway is proposed to begin construction in 2008. Completion of the project will hopefully occur in 2017, though this is greatly dependent on the financing and voters' approval of the project.
The project costs an estimated $477 million. So far $43 million has been allocated for the project from gas taxes and other state funding. The rest of the amount has yet to be raised. Consequently, this highway project has created great debate within the Tacoma community.
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