Smoother highways coming soon to Green River Valley | Department of Transportation

A few months of grinding and paving work will clear the way for years of smooth driving for motorists who use State Route 18 in Auburn and State Route 167 in Kent and Renton.

May 18, 2016 2:03 pm

Repaving projects set to begin on SR 18 in Auburn, SR 167 in Kent and Renton

A few months of grinding and paving work will clear the way for years of smooth driving for motorists who use State Route 18 in Auburn and State Route 167 in Kent and Renton.

On Monday, May 16, contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will begin repaving a half-mile section of eastbound SR 18 near SR 167, as well as several on- and off-ramps serving the highways. Later this summer, the crews will repave about 2 miles of northbound SR 167 between South 212th Street in Kent and South 43rd Street in Renton.

“Both of these highways carry a lot of traffic,” said WSDOT Project Engineer Mike Askarian. “Repaving these sections now will reduce the need for repairs, which will help keep traffic moving and lower maintenance costs.”

The section of SR 18 that will be repaved carries about 95,000 vehicles a day, while the north end of SR 167 handles about 120,000 vehicles each day.

What drivers can expect

All work on both highways will be done overnight Sunday nights through Friday mornings to minimize the effect on drivers and traffic.

SR 18:

  • Eastbound SR 18 near the West Valley Highway may be closed for up to five nights from 10:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. with a detour via the West Valley Highway off-ramp and on-ramps.
  • Nighttime ramp closures with signed detours.
  • Single lane closures may start as early as 9 p.m. and end by 5 a.m.

SR 167:

  • Single lane closures may start as early as 8 p.m. and end by 5 a.m., with two-lane closures allowed after 10 p.m.
  • The SR 167 HOT lane is open to all traffic between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. seven days a week.
  • The on- and off-ramps at South 212th Street and South 43rd Street will each have up to five nights of closures. Signed detours will be provided.

Coordinating projects and events

In addition to repaving SR 18 and SR 167, WSDOT has started a major rehabilitation project on southbound Interstate 5 between the Duwamish River and Federal Way. That project has five weekends in July and August during which southbound I-5 will be reduced two lanes near SeaTac, Des Moines or Tukwila. SR 18 and SR 167 will not have lane closures during those weekends.

Lane reductions on SR 18 and SR 167 also will be limited around major events at the White River Amphitheatre and Pacific International Raceway, as well as during Muckleshoot Tribe, Auburn, Kent and Renton community festivals.