People interested in learning more about the State Route 509 expressway construction work planned in Kent can visit an online open house through Friday, Oct. 25.
Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) have begun work on the final stage of the State Route 509 Completion Project, according to a Sept. 4 WSDOT news release.
This fall, crews will begin excavating the remaining 2 miles of the expressway between 24th Avenue South and South 188th Street in SeaTac. The first mile of the new tolled expressway, located between Interstate 5 and 24th Avenue South, is already under construction and scheduled to open in 2025 as part of Stage 1b of the project.
This stage of the SR 509 Completion Project, which is currently in progress, builds the first mile of new tolled expressway between I-5 and 24th Avenue South, new I-5 ramps, new interchanges, a tunnel under I-5 (at Veterans Drive near Kent) and a new South 216th Street bridge.
Crews will build 3 miles of new tolled highway between I-5 and South 188th Street near the south end of Sea-Tac International Airport. The new highway will be completed in stages. The portion currently under construction between I-5 and 24th Avenue is scheduled to open in 2025. The final stage will build the remaining 2 miles of the expressway between 24th Avenue South and South 188th Street.
The entire project is planned for completion by 2028 and will provide an alternative route between Kent and Seattle by using SR 509.
The new portion of SR 509 will be tolled, according to WSDOT. Throughout construction and after completion, people will still be able to use their current access points to SR 509 and I-5, and people will not pay tolls on the roads they use today. The rates will vary depending on traffic.
The SR 509 Completion Project is part of WSDOT’s Puget Sound Gateway Program, which also includes the SR 167 Completion Project in Pierce County. Combined, the two completion projects finish critical missing links in Washington’s highway and freight network. The cost is $2.69 billion, according to WSDOT.
Go online to: engage.wsdot.wa.gov/sr-509-expressway.
Kent projects
Here’s a look at the SR 509 projects in Kent.
• Southbound I-5 between SR 516 and South 272nd Street
WSDOT is making improvements to I-5 to help traffic transition between SR 509 and I-5. A new southbound lane between SR 516 and South 272nd Street will add capacity to I-5 for traffic traveling from SR 509 to the Kent Valley and Federal Way. Crews expect to begin work in 2024.
If you use southbound I-5, expect frequent shoulder closures and periodic night and weekend lane closures. All construction work will take place behind temporary concrete barriers, but the traveling public should always slow down when traveling through work zones and watch for trucks entering and exiting work areas.
• McSorley Creek near South 259th Street
A culvert under I-5 at McSorley Creek, located north of South 272nd Street, will be replaced with a larger culvert to maintain the water flow and keep I-5 resilient. Crews will access the construction site from South 259th Street.
If you live near or travel through South 259th Street, expect construction traffic and periodic lane and shoulder closures at this location.
• Noise wall extension
WSDOT will extend the existing noise wall east of 32nd Place South in Kent to the north by 230 feet. A construction schedule for this has not yet been set.
If you live right next to the planned noise wall near 32nd Place South, you should expect survey crews to reach out to you before construction starts. During construction, crews will use machinery to compact the soil, pour concrete for the noise wall foundations, and form the new concrete panels.
Contractors are required to meet local noise variances and will take steps to minimize noise and potentially disruptive construction activity. Best practices for managing noise and construction near neighbors and businesses include:
• Providing nearby residents with notices in advance of noisy nighttime work
• Wetting down the ground to prevent dust
• Lining truck beds to help dump material and limit tailgate slamming
If you have questions or concerns about construction at any time, contact WSDOT at its 24-hour hotline, 206-225-0674, or email SR509Construction@wsdot.wa.gov.
The online open house also includes impacts on SeaTac, Burien and Des Moines. The online open house breaks down the work by different areas and neighborhoods, making it easy for people to find information, graphic visualizations and maps for the construction most likely to affect them.
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When completed, the Veterans Drive tunnel, seen here in its earlier construction stage, will offer users more ways to cross from one side of I-5 to the other. Veteran’s Drive itself will be extended to connect with Military Road South. COURTESY PHOTO, WSDOT
A map of the SR 509 project to connect with I-5. COURTESY GRAPHIC, WSDOT
