Government Transportation

Overnight paving begins Monday on Highway 16

Crews will begin repaving portions of Highway 16 from the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to Burley Olalla Road on Monday, June 14. The work will be conducted weeknights, between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., said Washington State Department of Transportation spokeswoman Angela Cochran.

On Monday, travelers will see rolling slowdowns as crews from contractor Tucci & Sons, LLC move equipment across westbound Highway 16 to close the two right lanes. Don’t pass the construction vehicles.

Crews will begin grinding out old asphalt and replacing it with new on Tuesday at the 24th Street exit and work their way toward Burley Olalla Road. The highway will be reduced to one lane in the work area, where on- and off-ramps will be closed.

Once westbound lanes are repaved, crews will turn around and work in the eastbound direction in August. They’ll return late in the month after the asphalt is cured to add permanent lane markings, Cochran said. The work is weather-dependent.

Work will occur in lanes most needing repair. In most places along Highway 16, that comprises all but the HOV lane. Also, all lanes of both the eastbound and westbound bridge over Rosedale Street will be paved.

The new surface will maintain the highway’s structural integrity and reduce the potential for costly emergency maintenance repairs and unexpected lane closures, WSDOT said.

Highway 16 is one of seven roadways in Kitsap, Mason, Thurston and Pierce counties included in the $25.8 million highway preservation project.