Puget Sound Gateway Program (WA-167 and WA-509 Extensions)

[stevashe]

Now that that bit of road has been officially signed as 509, they must have nailed down what will happen to the rest of 509. Southbound, is it going to turn right off I-5, one exit down, back onto its current alignment, and then continue all the way to Tacoma? And when they complete the expressway south of SeaTac, will the long stretch through Des Moines and Normandy Park all become 516? Or will it all get relinquished?

Every time I see an optimistic post like this that overestimates how organized DOTs are when it comes to this kind of thing, it brings a smile to my face.  Signage can be very project specific and not have anything to do with the entire corridor...

I wouldn't say the new bit of road has been "officially" signed as 509. I did see that google maps has labelled it, but signs in the field make no mention of it (see my picture of the exit sign simply saying "24th Ave S" above).

That being said, there must be some sort of plan since WSDOT has a very detailed (and organized  ) highway inventory that lists every highway in the state, and they don't allow duplicate route numbers. I will say that the plan for the internal inventory may or may not get translated to signs in the field, however...

[pderocco]

Now that that bit of road has been officially signed as 509, they must have nailed down what will happen to the rest of 509. Southbound, is it going to turn right off I-5, one exit down, back onto its current alignment, and then continue all the way to Tacoma? And when they complete the expressway south of SeaTac, will the long stretch through Des Moines and Normandy Park all become 516? Or will it all get relinquished?

Every time I see an optimistic post like this that overestimates how organized DOTs are when it comes to this kind of thing, it brings a smile to my face.  Signage can be very project specific and not have anything to do with the entire corridor...

I wouldn't say the new bit of road has been "officially" signed as 509. I did see that google maps has labelled it, but signs in the field make no mention of it (see my picture of the exit sign simply saying "24th Ave S" above).

That being said, there must be some sort of plan since WSDOT has a very detailed (and organized  ) highway inventory that lists every highway in the state, and they don't allow duplicate route numbers. I will say that the plan for the internal inventory may or may not get translated to signs in the field, however...

You're right, I see in GSV that the BGSes on the ramp from NB I-5 has a cover over where one would expect to see the route number. But I can't imagine what that could be, other than 509. So perhaps they'll leave the covers on until they've figured out what to do with the rest of 509. The WSDOT GIS calls this route 509 PR, which might stand for "proposed".

[kphoger]

The WSDOT GIS calls this route 509 PR, which might stand for "proposed".

I believe that's correct.  PR for Proposed Route, FT for Ferry Terminal.

[jakeroot]

Down in the South end, WSDOT has installed this temporary signal in the median of the half-SPUI interchange at WA-167/WA-161 (Meridian). They must be planning to run Meridian through it (the two wooden signal masts) while they build the freeway overpass above the future Meridian DDI roadway (which would be to the west of the temp signal, where the current signal is).


WA-161/WA-167 Temp Signal by Jacob Root, on Flickr


WA-161/WA-167 Temp Signal by Jacob Root, on Flickr


It is interesting to note that this interchange was rebuilt in 2009 apparently in preparation for the long-planned *full* SPUI at 167/161 in 2009. If only whoever has the hard-on for DDIs was never hired at WSDOT, this might have still become a full SPUI. I'd have preferred a partial cloverleaf, but WSDOT is afraid of loops these days...

[stevashe]

Now that that bit of road has been officially signed as 509, they must have nailed down what will happen to the rest of 509. Southbound, is it going to turn right off I-5, one exit down, back onto its current alignment, and then continue all the way to Tacoma? And when they complete the expressway south of SeaTac, will the long stretch through Des Moines and Normandy Park all become 516? Or will it all get relinquished?

Every time I see an optimistic post like this that overestimates how organized DOTs are when it comes to this kind of thing, it brings a smile to my face.  Signage can be very project specific and not have anything to do with the entire corridor...

I wouldn't say the new bit of road has been "officially" signed as 509. I did see that google maps has labelled it, but signs in the field make no mention of it (see my picture of the exit sign simply saying "24th Ave S" above).

That being said, there must be some sort of plan since WSDOT has a very detailed (and organized  ) highway inventory that lists every highway in the state, and they don't allow duplicate route numbers. I will say that the plan for the internal inventory may or may not get translated to signs in the field, however...

You're right, I see in GSV that the BGSes on the ramp from NB I-5 has a cover over where one would expect to see the route number. But I can't imagine what that could be, other than 509. So perhaps they'll leave the covers on until they've figured out what to do with the rest of 509. The WSDOT GIS calls this route 509 PR, which might stand for "proposed".

The cover is over a "toll road" warning. You can also see that in my photo above. This will be removed once tolls start at the end of this month.