Cross Base Corridor Information

Public Works & Utilities >> County Road Projects >> Cross-Base

Project Update - July 2008

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) awarded a $7.35 million dollar contract for ''Project 1'' to Ceccanti Inc. on June 20th, 2008. Construction started in July 2008 and is expected to be complete Summer 2009. Project 1 is the portion of the project's east end between Spanaway Loop Road and SR-7. Design, right-of-way acquisition, and permitting for the rest of the highway alignment continues.

Additional project information is available on the WSDOT Cross-Base Web page.

Cross-Base Highway (SR-704)

Project Description and Background

Pierce County, WSDOT, and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), (the lead agencies), in concert with the City of Lakewood, McChord Air Force Base and Fort Lewis are developing a new arterial roadway between Interstate 5 (I-5) and State Route (SR) 7 (Pacific Avenue).

The project termini are the Thorne Lane interchange on I-5 and the intersection of 176th Street S and SR 7. The project spans 5.9 miles.

The planned roadway and route

Actual construction of follow-on phases of the project depends on securing additional funding for right of way purchases and building the roadway. Once completed, the new roadway will provide four through-lanes. Access will be provided at three signalized intersections (two in American Lake Gardens and one at Spanaway Loop Road Southerly extension) and at a new interchange near A Street (roughly mid-way along the project) to provide access into McChord AFB and Fort Lewis.

The existing Thorne Lane interchange will be relocated 300 feet southwest and reconstructed to accommodate additional traffic, pass over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad tracks southwest of I-5, and connect to a new single-lane southbound connector road southwest of the BNSF railroad tracks between Gravelly Lake Drive and Thorne Lane (Gravelly-Thorne Connector).

The intersection of 176th Street S and SR 7 will also be enlarged with additional lanes for turning movements.

On Fort Lewis, a new over crossing of the BNSF tracks will be constructed. Lincoln Road (on Fort Lewis) will be realigned to connect with the new A Street interchange, and a new military access road between Fort Lewis and McChord AFB will be constructed.

Why the highway is needed

The Cross-Base Highway will provide a needed link in the regional transportation system by connecting existing and future residential areas in mid-Pierce County and north Thurston County with two of the largest planned employment sites in Pierce County--Frederickson and DuPont.

The roadway will reduce projected traffic volumes and congestion, particularly during peak periods on existing roadways such as SR-7, SR-512, SR-507, and Spanaway Loop Road S. All of these roads are projected to operate at, near, or above capacity in 2025 if additional east-west capacity is not added.

Construction of the Cross-Base Highway is a top priority. In 2002, the planned highway was designated SR 704 and a route of regional significance by the Washington State Legislature. In 2004, the Washington State Legislature designated SR 704 as a 'Highway of Statewide Significance.'

Project Environmental Documentation

•Record of Decision

•Final EIS

•Supplemental Draft EIS

Record of Decision (ROD) Issued

The Federal Highway Adminstration (FHWA) issued a Record of Decision (ROD) (246 KB pdf) for this project on August 2, 2004. This document completes the environmental phase of this project. The ROD:

Addresses comments received on the FEIS.
Describes the lead agencies' selected alternative and explains reasons for the decision.
Describes mitigation measures and monitoring commitments that will become part of the project.

Environmental Impact Statements (EIS)

A Draft EIS was published in May 1998. A Supplemental Draft EIS was published in June 2002. The Final EIS was published in September 2003.

The Draft EIS (hardcopy only), Supplemental Draft EIS, and Final EIS (in hardcopy or CD-ROM) are available for review or purchase at our office:

2401 South 35th Street, Room 150
Tacoma, Washington, 98409-7485

Project Newsletters (Archive)

For more information and project history, please review the projects Community Newsletters. These files are in pdf format and require the Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Next Steps

With issuance of the ROD by the FHWA, in August 2004, WSDOT began design of the full project. Engineering design is fully funded. Additional funds for right-of-way acquisition and construction beyond Project 1 are being sought.

You can view updated project information on the WSDOT Cross-Base Web page.

How can I get more information?

Patrick Baughman, P.E.

Engineering Resources Supervisor

Contact - Engineering Resources Supervisor:
Email: Patrick Baughman, P.E. (patrick.baughman@co.pierce.wa.us) for more information.
Phone: (253) 798-3157

Pierce County Public Works and Utilities
4301 South Pine Street, Suite 446
Tacoma, WA 98409-7207

CRP 5704 | September 2009