State Route 16 West

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Washington State Route 16
Washington State Route 16 West
The Nalley Valley Viaduct was constructed between 1969 and 1971 to carry SR 16 between I-5 and the exchange with Sprague Avenue. Supports for the elevated highway utilized four-legged columns known as a tetrapod, which negated the possibility of expanding the viaduct. A second elevated roadway was instead built for SR 16 west by Summer 2011, with the original viaduct repurposed for SR 16 east.

The Nalley Valley Viaduct was constructed between 1969 and 1971 to carry SR 16 between I-5 and the exchange with Sprague Avenue. Supports for the elevated highway utilized four-legged columns known as a tetrapod, which negated the possibility of expanding the viaduct. A second elevated roadway was instead built for SR 16 west by Summer 2011, with the original viaduct repurposed for SR 16 east.

08/29/06

Redesign of the West Nalley Valley interchange separated movements to Sprague Avenue from the respective I-5 ramps to eliminate weaving traffic.

Redesign of the West Nalley Valley interchange separated movements to Sprague Avenue from the respective I-5 ramps to eliminate weaving traffic.

08/29/06

Sprague Avenue stems north from SR 16 to Division / 6th Avenues.

Sprague Avenue stems north from SR 16 to Division / 6th Avenues.

08/29/06

A diamond interchange joins SR 16 with Union Avenue one half mile west of Sprague Avenue.

A diamond interchange joins SR 16 with Union Avenue one half mile west of Sprague Avenue.

08/29/06

SR 16 reassurance shield that was posted after the Sprague Avenue on-ramp.

SR 16 reassurance shield that was posted after the Sprague Avenue on-ramp.

08/29/06

Union Avenue heads south to an interchange with Tacoma Way (historic U.S. 99) and north to the University of Puget Sound.

Union Avenue heads south to an interchange with Tacoma Way (historic U.S. 99) and north to the University of Puget Sound.

08/29/06

SR 16 west connects with Union Avenue at the Oakland section of Tacoma.

SR 16 west connects with Union Avenue at the Oakland section of Tacoma.

08/29/06

A wye interchange was added to SR 16 after the bridge over Tyler Street and Snake Lake to Center Street at Mullen Street. Center Street meets Orchard Street at the Fircrest city line.

A wye interchange was added to SR 16 after the bridge over Tyler Street and Snake Lake to Center Street at Mullen Street. Center Street meets Orchard Street at the Fircrest city line.

08/29/06

Turning north, SR 16 enters a six-ramp parclo interchange (Exits 2A/B) with S 19th Street at Orchard Street.

Turning north, SR 16 enters a six-ramp parclo interchange (Exits 2A/B) with S 19th Street at Orchard Street.

08/29/06

Exit 2A leads onto S 19th Street east to Cheney Stadium, home of the Class AAA Tacoma Rainiers Minor League Baseball club.

Exit 2A leads onto S 19th Street east to Cheney Stadium, home of the Class AAA Tacoma Rainiers Minor League Baseball club.

08/29/06

Exit 2B leaves SR 16 north for parallel Orchard Street midway between S 12th and 19th Streets. S 19th Street follows the Tacoma and Fircrest city line west to Tacoma Community College and University Place.

Exit 2B leaves SR 16 north for parallel Orchard Street midway between S 12th and 19th Streets. S 19th Street follows the Tacoma and Fircrest city line west to Tacoma Community College and University Place.

08/29/06

SR 163 stems north from the forthcoming parclo interchange with Pearl Street to Ruston and the WSDOT Ferry Point Defiance Terminal.

SR 163 stems north from the forthcoming parclo interchange with Pearl Street to Ruston and the WSDOT Ferry Point Defiance Terminal.

08/29/06

Exit 3 connects SR 16 north with 6th Avenue and Bantz Boulevard north to SR 163. SR 163 travels 3.37 miles to the WSDOT Ferry terminal to Vashon Island.

Exit 3 connects SR 16 north with 6th Avenue and Bantz Boulevard north to SR 163. SR 163 travels 3.37 miles to the WSDOT Ferry terminal to Vashon Island.

08/29/06

SR 16 winds westward one mile to Exit 4 for Jackson Avenue.

SR 16 winds westward one mile to Exit 4 for Jackson Avenue.

08/29/06

Beyond Jackson Avenue and Tacoma, SR 16 continues six miles to Gig Harbor and 28 miles to Bremerton (via connections with SR 3).

Beyond Jackson Avenue and Tacoma, SR 16 continues six miles to Gig Harbor and 28 miles to Bremerton (via connections with SR 3).

08/29/06

Jackson Avenue travels north to Narrows Drive and south from SR 16 to Bridgeport Way in University Place.

Jackson Avenue travels north to Narrows Drive and south from SR 16 to Bridgeport Way in University Place.

08/29/06

A pedestrian arch bridge links sections of Skyline Drive over SR 16 ahead of the parclo interchange with Jackson Avenue.

A pedestrian arch bridge links sections of Skyline Drive over SR 16 ahead of the parclo interchange with Jackson Avenue.

08/29/06

SR 16 crosses The Narrows between Tacoma and Gig Harbor. SR 16 north spans the suspension bridge built in 1950. Southbound traffic crosses The Narrows across the companion suspension bridge opened in July 2007.

SR 16 crosses The Narrows between Tacoma and Gig Harbor. SR 16 north spans the suspension bridge built in 1950. Southbound traffic crosses The Narrows across the companion suspension bridge opened in July 2007.

08/29/06

A bridge viewing area is located along The Narrows from Lucille Parkway south near Exit 8.

A bridge viewing area is located along The Narrows from Lucille Parkway south near Exit 8.

08/29/06

SR 16 previously crossed the 1950-bridge with two-way traffic. Tolls were collected for the 5,979 foot long span until 1965. Tolling was reinstituted at The Narrows in 2007 for the eastbound bridge at a rate of $4.00 for cash transactions.1
3 photos

SR 16 previously crossed the 1950-bridge with two-way traffic. Tolls were collected for the 5,979 foot long span until 1965. Tolling was reinstituted at The Narrows in 2007 for the eastbound bridge at a rate of $4.00 for cash transactions.1

08/29/06

The history of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge began on July 1, 1940 when the original suspension bridge opened to traffic. Lasting only four months due to a physics design flaw that did not properly account for aeroelastic flutter, the bridge collapsed in a dramatic engineering failure. Regular vibrations and undulations of the span during windy weather were were known in the four months leading to the November 7, 1940 collapse.1 Explosive population growth of the area west of Pugeot Sound strained the 1950-span capacity and by 1998, the plan to add a second parallel bridge was approved. Construction on the new suspension bridge began in October 2002. Both spans travel 187.5 feet above The Narrows.1
3 photos

The history of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge began on July 1, 1940 when the original suspension bridge opened to traffic. Lasting only four months due to a physics design flaw that did not properly account for aeroelastic flutter, the bridge collapsed in a dramatic engineering failure. Regular vibrations and undulations of the span during windy weather were were known in the four months leading to the November 7, 1940 collapse.1
Explosive population growth of the area west of Pugeot Sound strained the 1950-span capacity and by 1998, the plan to add a second parallel bridge was approved. Construction on the new suspension bridge began in October 2002. Both spans travel 187.5 feet above The Narrows.1

08/29/06

Exit 8 departs SR 16 west for 24th Street NW. 24th Street connects the freeway with Jahn Avenue SW and Stone Drive NW to Tacoma Narrows Airport, Wollochet, and Point Fosdick.

Exit 8 departs SR 16 west for 24th Street NW. 24th Street connects the freeway with Jahn Avenue SW and Stone Drive NW to Tacoma Narrows Airport, Wollochet, and Point Fosdick.

08/29/06

A weigh station follows the diamond interchange with 24th Street NW along SR 16 west.

A weigh station follows the diamond interchange with 24th Street NW along SR 16 west.

08/29/06

SR 16 reaches Gig Harbor at the diamond interchange (Exit 10) with Olympic Drive NW.

SR 16 reaches Gig Harbor at the diamond interchange (Exit 10) with Olympic Drive NW.

08/29/06

References:

  1. Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Wikipedia.org.

Photo Credits:

Connect with:

Interstate 5Interstate 5

Page Updated Wednesday October 27, 2010.