FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 24, 2005

Yelm loop, Cross-Base highway, Orting bridge
all in final transportation budget

OLYMPIA -- With today's passage by the Legislature of the state biennial transportation budget, some $133 million goes to projects in the 2nd Legislative District. 

Rep. Tom Campbell (R-Roy), member of the House Transportation Committee, said among the many projects in his district, three stand out as major, vital projects to Pierce County in easing traffic congestion.

The Transportation Budget (SB 6091) includes $33 million to begin the first phase of the of the four-mile, three-lane highway that will loop State Routes 510 and 507 to bypass the Yelm city-center and relieve the city's growing traffic congestion.
 
"With this appropriation, we move forward on the design work and the acquiring of property to, perhaps, take a couple years off the original completion date," Campbell said.
 
The first phase is the northern portion of the alternate route that will have one though-lane each way, plus a center turn lane where needed. The posted speed limit on the roadway will be 45-miles-per-hour. There will also be a separate bike/pedestrian pathway along the route.
 
"This loop will provide drivers, especially truckers, an alternative to traveling through the city center," Campbell added. "It will reduce congestion on Yelm Ave. and First St. and it will improve freight mobility and safety."
 
The budget also includes $15 million for the Cross Base highway, which will provide regional travelers with a new six-mile-long, multi-lane divided highway. It will ease congestion on I-5, SRs 512 and 7, the Spanaway Loop Rd. and 174th St.
 
And, he said "the budget has $15 million for a replacement bridge over the Puyallup River (SR 162) at Orting, It will provide traffic relief and better evacuation in case a Lahar occurs, should Mount Rainier ever erupt." (A Lahar is a flowing mass of volcanic debris.) "The existing bridge will be retained as a walking bridge." 
 
"These projects have been on the drawing board for too long. Finally we will begin to move forward," he said.
 
There are a number of other 2nd District projects in the overall budget, totaling the $133 million the Legislature approved. The budget was sent to Gov. Christine Gregoire for her signature.

Map of State Route 704-Cross Base map

Map of Yelm Loop

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