WVH is a high volume, high freight (10.5%) principal arterial with 35,100 ADT. It connects the Southcenter area (regional urban growth center) & the manufacturing & warehousing areas within Kent & Renton to I-405, & indirectly to I- 5. On a good day, the congestion operates at LOS B/C but is heavily influenced by congestion on I-405 and SR 167 as those adjacent routes are backed up, motorists divert to WVH & LOS degrades to LOS E/F quickly. The SB direction has 3 through lanes along the corridor length but limited ROW, particularly along the SPU 60' watermain ROW, has limited the NB direction to only 2 through lanes. Dedicated turn pockets are present at all intersections & a TWLTL accommodates driveway access. Sidewalks are present on the west side but are intermittant on the east side in many locations, conditions have degraded & are not ADA compliant.
Projects — TIB Project Information
TIB Project Information
City of Tukwila's West Valley Highway (SR 181)
8-1-116(013)-1
8-1-116(013)-1
West Valley Highway (SR 181)
Strander Bvd to I-405
FY 2019 Urban Arterial Program
Current Phase : Construction
Total TIB Funding : $2,115,432
County: King | Legislative District: 11 | Project Length: 0.40 | TIB Engineer: Greg Armstrong | Last Payment Date: 05/06/2024
Project Information
| Lead Agency | TUKWILA |
| Funding Year | 2019 |
| Program | UAP |
| Current Phase | Construction |
| Legislative District | 11 |
| Congressional District | 9 |
| Federal Route Number | 0181 |
| Project Length | 0.40 mi. |
| ADT | 35,100 |
| Functional Class | Principal |
| Type of Work | Major Widening |
| Project Contact | Cyndy Knighton |
| Contact Email | cyndy.knighton@TukwilaWA.gov |
| TIB Engineer | Greg Armstrong |
| Last Payment Date | 05/06/2024 |
| Cultural Resource Assessment | Not Required |
Project Schedule
| Target Date | Actual Date | |
|---|---|---|
| Project Selection Date | 11/17/2017 | |
| Delayed Project Date | 07/01/2022 | |
| DAHP Assessment Date | ||
| Predesign Approval | ||
| Design Approval | 03/19/2018 | 03/19/2018 |
| Bid Auth. Approval | 11/01/2021 | 09/12/2021 |
| Construction Approval | 11/09/2021 | 11/23/2021 |
| Project Closeout | 09/30/2024 | |
| Audit Date | ||
| Withdrawn Date |
Project Funding
| TIB Funds | Project Costs | |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Study | 0 | 0 |
| Design Study | 0 | 0 |
| Total Predesign | 0 | 0 |
| Special Study | 0 | 0 |
| Design | 280,820 | 780,163 |
| Right of Way | 0 | 0 |
| Total Design | 280,820 | 780,163 |
| Construction Engineering | 280,820 | 486,185 |
| Construction Contract | 1,872,740 | 3,568,507 |
| Other Construction | 0 | 0 |
| Total Construction | 2,153,560 | 4,054,692 |
| Funding Surplus | - 318,948 | |
| Total TIB Funding | 2,115,432 | 4,834,855 |
Local Funding Partners
| Funding Amount | Percent | |
|---|---|---|
| TUKWILA | 474,423 | 9.8% |
| WSDOT Funding | 0 | 0.0% |
| CMAQ Funds | 185,000 | 3.8% |
| Sound Transit | 2,060,000 | 42.6% |
| Total Local Funding | 2,719,423 | 56.2% |
Project Description
Project will widen WVH to the east to construct the 3rd NB thru lane & install a 15' wide pedestrian zone where feasible. Lane offsets will be corrected as the NB curb line is brought to a consistent location. Bridging the SPU 60' watermain will be done to traffic load bearing standards to accommodate the widened roadway & the pedestrian zone. The existing NB RT lane that drops at Longacres will be carried through to S 156th St. The inside NB lane north at Longacres will feed directly into the dual NBLT lanes to I-405, alleviating the existing congestion point as the inside lane becomes blocked by heavy turn volumes, making an effective single NB lane. Where appropriate, existing broken s/w panels will be replaced. Pedestrian signalized crossing types will be studied to bring users of the new Ped/Bike Bridge over the Green River (located at 16113 WVH) safely across WVH, including a landscaped median/pedestrian refuge midway between Strander & Longacres. The new bridge (open late 2017) connects the Green River Trail & Southcenter on the west to the hotels & Sounder Station on the east. Driveways will be reconstructed to meet current ADA guidelines. The project will construct wide sidewalks & a buffer zone along the property frontage including the joint King County/Tukwila project to construct widened sidewalks from the Ped Bridge point north to Longacres Way (CMAQ funded). Any new illumination will use LED lamps. Fixed objects will be moved outside the 15' clear zone where possible. Possible access mgmt by changing the TWLTL into a median with u-turns at intersections will be studied.
Existing Condition
Project Benefits
- Improves safety;
- Completes gap;
- Relieves congestion;
- Removes ADA barriers;
- Builds multimodal facilities
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Project Delays
| Delay Type | Resolution Date | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Coordination Issues Project Delay |
01/31/2020 | The city was unable to reach agreement with the consultant on scope and fee. They re advertised for consultant services and conducted interviews on 4/12/2019, the hope to give the consultant notice to proceed in June 2019. City hopes to advertise Spring 2020 but the project funding package includes federal funds, requires WSDOT approval, a corps permit is requires, and the project crosses 60-inch water main owned by Seattle Public Utilities. Because of these constraints I think it is unlikely that the project will Fall 2020. |