4 Construction Projects Planned For Sumner-Tapps Highway

SUMNER, WA — Drivers who frequently use the Sumner-Tapps Highway are going to be in for some serious headaches this year, as the city is preparing for four major construction projects that they say are necessary to get the road up to code.

Here's a look at those projects, and how they might impact traffic.

The first is a major road resurfacing project. The city says crews will be removing the top inch of the road's asphalt all the way from the 64th Street intersection to the Sumner City Limits, then replacing that asphalt with two more inches. This change will also cut the number of lanes on the hill climb from three to two. That reduction will give them space to create new, six inch shoulders with rumble strips, which the city says should help keep drivers from accidentally running off the road. The city is also reviewing the speed limit to see if the current limit of 45 mph is appropriate following the change, and may cut it down.

The second project is a major guardrail replacement that is scheduled for later in the year. It will upgrade and replace the current, worn out guardrails. According to the city, the current rails are at the end of their lifespan and needed to be replaced with newer, safer railings.

Third is a pole relocation plan that will happen in late spring and early summer. During that time, Puget Sound Energy will be moving utility poles along the highway, which the city says should improve safety along the road. There are a number of utilities using each pole, so this project could require several crews representing different companies — which in turn could lead to more backups.

Finally, WSDOT will be closing northbound SR 167 for a whole weekend for a major bridge renovation project. During the closure, drivers will be detouring onto the Sumner-Tapps Highway, which the city says is likely to dramatically increase congestion.

As you may have noticed: there haven't been any dates announced for any of these projects. Organizers say that's because all four projects are closely intertwined, meaning delays with one could cause setbacks with another. As a result, the city says they can't say when any will begin right now, but they will be working hard to send out alerts and updates on these projects as often as possible. You can sign up for alerts, or submit questions for the city on their website here.