Eastbound State Route 16 Closures Start Aug. 5

Prepare for more construction and nighttime closures on eastbound State Route 16 starting Monday, Aug. 5.

Crews will continue to set bridge girders as part of the Washington State Department of Transportation’s SR 16: Eastbound Nalley Valley project. In total, 83 girders are needed to construct three separate bridges:

1. The new permanent eastbound SR 16 viaduct
2. The South Sprague Avenue on-ramp to southbound I-5
3. The South Sprague Avenue on-ramp to northbound I-5. To date, 70 of those girders are in place.

Next week’s closures are scheduled as follows:

• At 11 p.m. each night from Monday, Aug. 5, through Thursday, Aug. 8, all lanes of eastbound SR 16 will be closed at South Union Avenue, along with the South Union Avenue on-ramp to eastbound SR 16. During the closures, traffic will be detoured via South Union Avenue. The lanes and ramp will reopen each following morning by 4 a.m.

• Night closures will occur next weekend as well. Crews will again eastbound SR 16 at South Union Avenue and the Union Avenue on-ramp to eastbound SR from 1 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10, and from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 11.

• Closures will also occur on city streets under the viaduct to ensure safety of the traveling public.  At 9 p.m.each night from Monday, Aug. 5, through Friday, Aug. 9, crews will close all lanes of South Center Street between South Pine Street and South Wilkeson Street, and traffic will be detoured via South Tacoma Way. South Center Street will reopen by 4:30 a.m. each following morning.

• From 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, until 7 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 11, South Center Street will again be closed and motorists will use the same detour route.

For more information about Nalley Valley construction, motorists can visit WSDOT’s SR 16 Eastbound Nalley Valley project website. 

Information about highway closures around the South Sound can be found at tacomatraffic.com.