Stewart Road/8th Street White River Bridge

We were pleased to officially break ground on this project on March 18, 2025. Joining in the celebration were U.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland, Mayor Kathy Hayden, Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus, Pierce County Councilmember Dave Morell. We also had other funders and members of the project teams, past and present, helping to celebrate the start of construction.

PSE will begin relocating power poles in the area on Saturday, September 28th. PSE and other utilities will be working in the area during Fall 2024 to make way for the upcoming major construction next year.

The project was first advertised for construction on September 11th, 2024. The project is expected to be will be awarded in October, with major construction activities beginning early in 2025.

The National Highway Freight Program has awarded $7 Million in funding to the Stewart Road Bridge construction project. These funds will be added to the construction phase. With these additional dollars and other recent awards and appropriations.

When President Biden signed the federal budget in late 2022, the City was appropriated $2.8 million for the Stewart Road Bridge project. These funds will go to the project construction. Many thanks to our elected officials for securing these funds for the project.

In early December 2022, the City was awarded a $6 Million grant from the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board! These funds account for the largest outside funding source for the project to date. The project is getting very close construction, with a start date possibilities between Summer 2023 and Winter 2024. The funding picture is looking much stronger!

The Stewart Road Bridge Replacmeent Project is the #1 priority on Sumner's 2021 Legislative Agenda, requesting $7 Million for the project. This document is produced for lawmakers looking to local municipal governments to understand their needs and priorities. Funding this project would enable the project to progress through to Construction, completing the corridor, relieving congestion, and opening up the available floodplain for the White RIver. Completing this project would be the crowning achievement for a corridor 30 years in the making. Check out the entire Sumner legislative agenda here:

2021 Sumner Legislative Agenda

In December 2020, The Pierce County Council in conjunction with the County Executive entered into a formal Interlocal Agreement to provide funding to the Stewart Road Bridge Construction Phase for $4.26 Million. A thank you to all of those that see the importance of completing this regional corridor. With these funds secured, the project construction is just over 50% funded, most of the way toward our goal!

In 2020, Sumner was awarded a $50,000 grant through the Port of Tacoma Local Economic Development Fund to support the project design phase. These funds will be spent directly on transportation-related design expenses to help the City advance the project through the design process. A big "Thank You" to the Port in supporting this important regional project!

The Stewart Road Bridge is one portion of Sumner's initiative to improve flooding and protect fish, habitat, and the environment for future generations.

See the video below for an introduction to Sumner's efforts along the White River. The Stewart Road Bridge project is one project in the restoration effort that will not only improve an undersized roadway but also benefit the river system right at and downstream of Stewart Road!

Sumner's White River Restoration