Exit 133 Closure

We don’t always cover road closures, but when one seems like particularly noteworthy, we think it’s worth a mention. And this one has a personal connection for us…

The eastbound Nalley Valley/SR-16 project has been progressing over the last many months, and has finally reached the stage where it needs to be connected to I-5. As a part of that work, the northbound I-5 exit to the Tacoma City Center (Exit 133) will close around the clock for up to three months, while crews demolish the old “temporary” ramp, and replace it with a new “permanent” ramp. Guess it’s all relative… From the WSDOT webpage:

Tentatively, the northbound I-5 ramp to the Tacoma City Center (Exit #133) is scheduled to close in May, June and July. Motorists will be detoured to the city center via the northbound I-5 exit to SR 16 [see map above] and going straight onto the collector/distributor that parallels I-5.

The good news is that it shouldn’t disrupt traffic on the exit too much, according to the DOT. There will be other related closures to continue to look out for:

• On South Center Street, drivers can expect single- and double-lane closures during daytime hours through at least March 24.
• On South Tacoma Way single-lane closures will also continue, to allow crews to haul away demolition debris.
• The southbound I-5 exit to South 38th Street will close completely during night hours (11:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.) Monday through Friday during the weeks of March 19 and March 26. A signed detour will direct motorists to use the I-5/South 56th Street interchange. The closure will not affect motorists traveling from southbound I-5 to westbound SR 16.
• Other nighttime single-lane closures and shoulder closures will occur on eastbound SR 16 next week for various activities such as setting barrier and installing temporary illumination. Those should have minimal effects on traffic.

The viaduct project has a 2014 end-date on it, so we’ll be seeing continued work for a while yet, but when it’s completed, the viaducts will create ramp connections that will be used in the creation of HOV direct-access ramps between SR-16 and I-5. That phase is scheduled for completion anywhere between 2020 and 2023.

For more on the project, visit the WSDOT SR 16 – Eastbound Nalley Valley project website