1998 Excellence in Highway Design Category 1 - The Urban Highway Merit Award
State Route 509 Relocation
Tacoma, Washington
Designer: Washington State Department of Transportation
Contractors: Max J. Kuney, Spokane;
Scarsella Brothers, Seattle;
Walter and Sci, Renton;
Ames Construction, Burnsville, Mn;
Tucci and Sons, Tacoma;
A.H.Powers, Seattle
Significant traffic delays on old State Route 509 through the port of Tacoma led to the design of this 4.5 mile divided highway. The new facility improved safety, traffic flow, and provided direct access to Interstate Route 705. The cable stayed bridge, a design requested by the city, minimized impact to a superfund cleanup site and gave the city a "landmark" structure.