There’s been a lot of confusion swirling around the SR 167 Completion Project, which will build six new miles of tolled highway between Puyallup and the Port of Tacoma. Rest assured that the project – part of the Puget Sound Gateway Program that includes the SR 509 Completion Project in King County – is proceeding.

While funding proposed in Gov. Inslee’s 2023-25 transportation budget could delay the final phase of the SR 167 project, proposed budgets released by the Washington State House and Senate keep the project on track for completion in 2029. For example, the House budget (passed April 3 with a vote of 96-1) proposes $2.654 billion in total spending for the program, which represents $263 million in additional spending beyond the governor’s proposal.

“This budget honors our commitment to the people of Washington to keep key projects funded and on schedule, improve our ferry system, restore fish passages, and combat climate change,” said House Transportation Chair Jake Fey (D-Tacoma). “I appreciate the collaboration to make this a truly bipartisan effort.”

The House transportation bill is now with the Senate for further consideration. The legislature is scheduled to adjourn April 23.

The EDB and its partners stand firm in their continued support for on-time completion of the SR 167 project. In a recent letter to Senate and House Transportation committee members, the EDB and nearly 150 representatives of business, labor, maritime and local governments from across the state voiced their concerns about potential delays.

SR 167 Completion Project it stands today

COMPLETED: First phase of construction: SR 167/70th Avenue Bridge Project

• New four-lane bridge over I-5 in Fife doubled the capacity of the 70th Avenue East Bridge it replaced.
• New SR 99 multi-lane roundabout to allow traffic to flow between the bridge and SR 99.
• Bridge and the Interurban trail connected; new trail parking lot added.

IN PROGRESS (funding approved): Second phase of construction: SR 167/I-5 to SR 509 New Expressway Project

• New 2-mile highway between I-5 and SR 509, providing a direct link to the Port of Tacoma.
• New diverging diamond interchange over I-5 to connect I-5 to the future SR 167 extension.
• The Riparian Restoration Program, which will restore approximately 150 acres of wetlands and streams.
• New interchange at I-5, 54^th with connections to SR 509.
• New sidewalks and widening of SR 99 from new roundabout through existing 70^th E. intersection.
• New 2.5-mile, shared-use path from SR 99 to Alexander Ave. E.

COMING: Third/final phase of construction, 2025-2028

• Construction of the remaining 4 miles of SR 167 between Puyallup and I-5, including several new interchanges.
• Completion of a new shared-use path between Puyallup and Alexander Ave. E. in Fife.

You can learn more about the phased SR 167 Completion Project and the Puget Sound Gateway Program on the Washington State Department of Transportation website.