Sumner-Tapps Highway Guardrail Work

Overhead image of existing Sumner-Tapps Highway with lines overlaid showing new channelization of lanes.

Its been a busy 2021 and 2022 on Sumner-Tapps Highway! There are four separate projects or events scheduled for 2021 and 2022, and this is the place to keep track of project progress, upcoming traffic warnings, and corridor concerns. The City of Sumner has lined up two major roadway preservation projects that utilize federal funds. And there's a utility project. And a major detour weekend too? No work at the 64th Intersection, but that is a bigger project that is in preliminary design right now. There's still a large funding gap to build those improvements, but we're positioning the project for federal grant opportunities. You can find out more about that project here:https://connects.sumnerwa.gov/166th-410_interchange

Project One: Resurfacing (Complete)

Project Two: Guardrail Replacement

The guardrail replacement project will upgrade and replace the existing guardrail that has reached the end of its serviceable life. New guardrail at current design height will be extended with appropriate end treatments to protect motorists to today's improved roadside design standards.

Project Three: Pole Relocation (In Progress)

Puget Sound Energy (PSE) will be relocating some of their utility poles at our request to improve safety in the corridor. This is done at no cost to the City under a utility agreement. There are many utilities on those poles, so multiple utility companies will be involved in the work.

Project Four: NB SR 167 Weekend Detour (Complete)


City staff will be working hard to ensure that you are inconvenienced as little as possible. But, as with all road construction, there will be inconveniences. So follow the project in the email sign-up in the lower right of this page to keep up with the latest information!

Its been a busy 2021 and 2022 on Sumner-Tapps Highway! There are four separate projects or events scheduled for 2021 and 2022, and this is the place to keep track of project progress, upcoming traffic warnings, and corridor concerns. The City of Sumner has lined up two major roadway preservation projects that utilize federal funds. And there's a utility project. And a major detour weekend too? No work at the 64th Intersection, but that is a bigger project that is in preliminary design right now. There's still a large funding gap to build those improvements, but we're positioning the project for federal grant opportunities. You can find out more about that project here:https://connects.sumnerwa.gov/166th-410_interchange

Project One: Resurfacing (Complete)

Project Two: Guardrail Replacement

The guardrail replacement project will upgrade and replace the existing guardrail that has reached the end of its serviceable life. New guardrail at current design height will be extended with appropriate end treatments to protect motorists to today's improved roadside design standards.

Project Three: Pole Relocation (In Progress)

Puget Sound Energy (PSE) will be relocating some of their utility poles at our request to improve safety in the corridor. This is done at no cost to the City under a utility agreement. There are many utilities on those poles, so multiple utility companies will be involved in the work.

Project Four: NB SR 167 Weekend Detour (Complete)


City staff will be working hard to ensure that you are inconvenienced as little as possible. But, as with all road construction, there will be inconveniences. So follow the project in the email sign-up in the lower right of this page to keep up with the latest information!

  • Guardrail Upgrade Work Starts Feb 7, 2022

    The guardrail upgrade project will begin on February 7th and last about 6 weeks. During this time, crews will be clearing vegetation, removing old guardrail, and installing new guardrail where warranted. Motorists should expect lane shifts during the work period and some stopped traffic during off-peak hours for one-lane two-way construction operations.

  • PSE Power work complete, utility relocations continue

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    PSE has placed new poles and finished the significant overhead power line relocations. The remaining telecommunications companies will be completing their relocations in next 90 days. Once all utilities are relocated, PSE will return and remove the old poles to complete this effort. Expect lane shifts and occasional closures to continue intermittently.

  • WSDOT Detour Weekend Scheduled Aug 20-22

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    Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Will be shutting down northbound SR 167 for an entire weekend due to bridge work, with detour routes through Sumner. This work is planned for the weekend of August 20-23 (weather permitting) and would start late Friday evening ending Sunday overnight.

    The detour route includes Sumner-Tapps Highway. Up to 10 miles of backup is expected on NB 167, and all lanes of NB 167 will be routed on marked detours through Sumner on either Traffic Avenue or Sumner-Tapps Highway. Please consider your travel plans, as significant backups on north-south roadways are expected.

    See WSDOT's project page for updates: https://wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr167/sr410-sr18/home

  • PSE Pole Relocations Begin Tomorrow

    Starting July 20, 2021 Puget Sound Energy (PSE) crews will begin installing new poles along Sumner-Tapps Highway. The poles will be relocated to less hazardous locations within the right-of-way. Pole installation is expected to take approximately 1 month, followed by utility companies transferring their wires to the new poles. Finally, PSE will remove the old poles after all transfers are complete.

    Expect to experience slow and/or stopped traffic while PSE crews complete this work. Thank you in advance for your patience.

  • Traffic Report Week of June 21st

    The contractor will be completing punchlist items for the next two weeks. Additionally, there will be lane closures with flaggers on Wednesday, 6/23 in the evening hours. Hopefully this work will be completed in one evening, weather permitting.

  • NB 167 Detour Weekend: Scheduled Mid- to Late-August

    The latest timeline for the detour weekend is mid- to late-August. The work is weather dependent, so the dates are subject to change. We will continue to keep this web site up to date with the latest information we receive from WSDOT.

  • Sumner-Tapps Resurfacing Substantially Complete

    The resurfacing project has wrapped up other than a few punch list items. Roadway impacts from the resurfacing project will be intermittent and will be fully complete in the next couple of weeks.

    The next project is the utility pole relocations by Puget Sound Energy. Tree trimming for that project is expected to begin in the next couple of weeks.

  • Traffic Report Update: May 13-14

    With grinding and pavement repairs complete, the project will be paving Thursday and Friday nights. Expect significant construction activity, lane shifts, 1-lane operations with flaggers and pilot car, and reduced speeds being enforced. All work is planned to be overnight; no active daytime work.

    Major work will finish next week during the day hours and will wrap up around May 21st. After that, only striping and rumble strip installation will remain, which is scheduled for mid-June.

  • Traffic Report: May 10-14

    Major paving operations begin tonight with grinding the existing asphalt to get it ready for resurfacing. This work is planned for Monday-Tuesday, with Pavement Repairs and full repaving by the end of the week. Expect lane shifts, 1-lane operations with flaggers and pilot car, and reduced speeds being enforced. All work is planned to be overnight, no active daytime work.

    There is a significant pavement replacement at the 60th St intersection, and this will involve closing the intersection during the overnight hours on Wednesday and Thursday. A detour route will be provided, but it will be best to avoid the area overnight when possible.

    Major work will finish next week during the day hours and will wrap up around May 21st. After that, only striping and rumble strip installation will remain, which is scheduled for mid-June.

  • Traffic Report: April 26-30

    The resurfacing contractor is starting this week (April 26-30), and will be lowering utilities and removing median curbing. Work will be completed during the day, primarily between 9am and 2pm. This week, expect minor delays and some lane shifts during daytime hours.

    The week of May 3rd, work shifts to nights with pavement repair work getting started. Next week, expect lane and some 1-lane operation with flaggers and a pilot car possible during the overnight hours. Plan your overnight travel accordingly, and consider alternate routes to avoid delays.

Page last updated: 25 Mar 2024, 11:15 AM