Smith Pleased New Overpass Opens at Port of Tacoma Road
Washington,
Aug 14, 2001 -
Congressman Adam Smith is pleased to participate in the opening ceremonies of the new overpass over the Port of Tacoma Road in Tacoma, Washington. The overpass will officially open this Thursday, August 16, and is planned to ease the flow of road and rail traffic moving in and out of the Port of Tacoma. This is the first of 15 similar projects planned in Phase I of a program known as FAST Corridor.
“I am pleased to have been an active participant in the success of this project,” said Smith. “This overpass will enhance the economic viability of the Port, and is the first of many, important FAST Corridor projects that will help ease congestion in the Puget Sound region and help get goods to market.”
The new overpass raises Port of Tacoma Road over State Rout 509 and creates a new interchange between the two roadways. The project also eliminates traffic lights and an at-grade rail crossing. In addition to speeding the flow of trucks moving in and out of the Port, it will make cross-Port trips easier for commuters.
Elevating the roadway allowed the Port to build a set of three arrival and departure (A&D) tracks beneath Port of Tacoma Road. The tracks serve as a on-ramps/off-ramps providing a place to stage intermodal container trains moving between the transcontinental railroads and the local Port area rail network. Space is available beneath the overpass to build up to seven more A&D tracks in the future. The A&D tracks improve the efficiency of rail cargo movements throughout the Puget Sound area.
The $33 million Port of Tacoma Road Overpass is the first FAST Corridor Project to be completed. FAST Corridor is a $400 million, six-year program to build 15 road/rail overpasses and underpasses from Tacoma to Everett. The program is funded by a coalition that includes the Port of Tacoma, Port of Seattle, Port of Everett, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington State Department of Transportation, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific railroads and numerous counties and cities in the Puget Sound area. FAST Corridor is an acronym for Freight Action Strategy for the Seattle-Tacoma Corridor.
Four other FAST Corridor projects are under construction and four more are expected to break ground this year. Future FAST Corridor projects are dependent upon passage of state funding.
WHAT: Grand Opening - Port of Tacoma Road Overpass
WHEN: Thursday, August 16, 10:00 am
WHERE: Intersection, Port of Tacoma Road Overpass and State Route 509, Tacoma
