Existing Conditions

The 70th Avenue E. overcrossing of Interstate 5 (I-5) is the final segment in a TIB corridor improvement within the City of Fife incorporating Valley Avenue E. and 70th Avenue E. to the south match line of the current project. The project completes the corridor to its northern termini at SR 99. The existing overcrossing is a highly congested bottleneck for freight, emergency and general traffic. Nonmotorized and ADA access are severely impaired in the corridor and neighboring routes. Two cities, the Port of Tacoma and WSDOT are collaborating on the project to meet each of their unique needs. WSDOT needs to relocate the 70th Avenue E bridge to clear the way for SR 167 completion, however, the project has added elements of local value, congestion relief and nonmotorized access to meet the Fife Comprehensive Plan, improved function of the Tacoma street system and correction of a severe bottleneck in Port access. Additional lanes and a 12-foot path primarily benefit arterial congestion relief, corridor completion, nonmotorized connectivity and implementation of the Fife Comprehensive Plan. WSDOT’s funding addresses the benefit to the state system and all grant funding is used to benefit the cities and Port partners. 70th Avenue E. is a highly congested T-1 truck route and principal arterial. The existing two-lane bridge is a freight access bottleneck to the Port of Tacoma Manufacturing Industrial Center (MIC) and freight-related businesses. Standing queues of trucks are commonplace. The route is the main arterial corridor and truck route through the East Fife Industrial Zone. Truck dependent industries dominate the area and need connectivity to I-5 and the Port of Tacoma MIC. Truck traffic from the Sumner MIC and north on SR 167 also use the corridor to close the gap between SR 167 and I-5. The primary alternative route via 54th Avenue E. is weight restricted forcing truck traffic over the narrow existing bridge. 70th Avenue E. is a designated T-1 truck route on the Washington Freight and Goods Transportation System. Truck traffic congestion severely impairs access for general vehicle traffic and emergency responders. Crashes involving trucks are extremely high, representing 85 percent of all collisions. FMSIB is an existing funding partner. None of the current crossings of I-5 in Fife provide existing infrastructure for pedestrian, bicycle or ADA accessibility.