We’re moving forward on the SR 167 Implementation Plan

State Route 167 is one of the busiest and most important corridors in the Puget Sound region. It connects people to jobs and essential services, keeps freight moving, and links communities across South King and Pierce counties. But like many growing areas, it’s also facing increasing congestion and travel challenges.

That’s why we’re continuing work on the SR 167 Implementation Plan, the next step in turning a long-term vision into real, on-the-ground improvements.

What is the Implementation Plan?

A few years ago, we worked with communities and partners along the corridor to develop the SR 167 Master Plan. That effort identified a range of multimodal improvements and strategies to help address safety, mobility, and access along the corridor.

Now we’re building on that work.

The Implementation Plan focuses on identifying which projects to advance and how they align with funding and phasing. It builds on the Master Plan by outlining the technical work required to move projects forward, including early engineering, traffic analysis and cost estimating.

Our goal is to identify one or more packages of projects and outline the level of funding that would be needed to deliver them. Those recommendations will be shared with the Legislature to help inform future decisions about transportation investments.

How we’re evaluating projects

One of the most important parts of this work is figuring out which projects rise to the top.

We’re using the goals established in the SR 167 Master Plan to guide our evaluation. That includes looking at how each project or package performs across a range of factors, such as:

• Improving safety performance for people traveling on and across the corridor
• Supporting reliable travel for people and freight
• Expanding travel options, including transit, walking, biking, and rolling
• Reducing environmental impacts and supporting healthier communities
• Improving access for communities that have been historically underserved
• Making sure solutions are practical, deliverable, and a good use of public funds

We’re also looking at how projects work together. Instead of focusing on individual projects in isolation, we’re evaluating how groups of projects can be packaged and phased to deliver the greatest overall benefit for the corridor.

Working with partners every step of the way

We’re not doing this alone.

We’re working closely with cities, counties, transit agencies, freight, and community representatives throughout the corridor. That includes the SR 167 Equity Advisory Committee, which helps make sure community perspectives are part of the process.

Together, we meet regularly to review projects, talk through priorities and shape how projects could be grouped and delivered. This collaborative approach helps us balance technical analysis with what matters most to the people who commute, live and work along SR 167.

We’ll wrap up this effort with a final report to the Legislature in December 2026.

A new webpage to follow along

We recently launched a new webpage dedicated to the SR 167 Implementation Plan. It’s the best place to find background information, track progress, and stay up to date as the work continues.

If you’re interested in the future of the corridor, we encourage you to check it out and follow along.

See us in your community this summer

We’re also getting out into the community.

This summer, our team will be visiting neighborhoods along the corridor to share information and answer questions. You’ll be able to find us at local fairs and festivals, where we’ll be talking about what we’re studying and what it could mean for the future of SR 167. Here’s a look at where you can find us this summer:

• June 20–21, 2026: Sumner Rhubarb Days
• July 10–12, 2026: Kent Cornucopia Days
• July 18, 2026: Edgewood Summerfest
• July 24–26, 2026: Renton River Days
• Aug. 14–15, 2026: Milton Days

If you see us at an event, stop by and say hello. We’d love to talk with you.

What’s next

The Implementation Plan is a key step in moving from planning to delivery. By combining technical analysis with input from our partners and communities, we’re working toward a clear path forward for the corridor.

We’ll continue to share updates as the work progresses and let people know about opportunities to get involved. If you have any questions, please email I405SR167Program@wsdot.wa.gov. You can also sign up for email updates.

Illustrative drawing of potential SR 167/SR 18 interchange improvements that may be included in the recommended package of projects

Illustrative drawing of Kent Direct Access, which may be included in the recommended package of projects

A cool, shady era begins at the Quincy Valley Rest Area

They say an optimist is someone who plants two acorns and buys a hammock. Well, there were no hammocks in sight or acorns being planted on May 13 at the Quincy Valley Rest Area off SR 28, but there was plenty of optimism.

Students from the local 4-H clubs (Quincy Sportsman 4-H and GQ 4-H), aided and supervised by community members, spent the day planting trees at the rest area, to replace the dozens of honeylocusts that had to be removed due to an infestation earlier this month.

Children from Quincy-area schools spent a day planting trees at the WSDOT Quincy Valley Rest Area off State Route 28 on May 12, 2026. The new trees replaced older trees that had to be removed due to disease.

This time around, the children spruced the place up with a variety of trees: October Glory maples, Austrian pines, European hornbeam, American Elm. The goal was simple, and visionary: To replenish the rest area with trees for future generations of travelers to enjoy. They showed up, donned reflective vests and gloves, grabbed shovels and got right to work. The rest area remained closed while the children worked safely in the dirt.

We partnered with Quincy-area 4-H clubs to plant new trees at the Quincy Valley Rest Area on SR 28, on May 13. The old trees were removed earlier this spring due to disease.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the youth volunteers who donated their time and energy to this project:

Brielle Baughman, Rayginn Baughman, Cora Tonne, Owen Tonne, Coulton Schwint, Addison Schwint, Bristol Knutson, Easton Dreher, Bentley Dreher, Braxton Dreher, and Chris Fuller.

Special thanks also go to group leaders Kristin Gans, Justine Schwint, Pauline Baughman, Jen Snyder, and Nichole Dreher, along with parent volunteers Michael Knutson, Stormy Baughman, and Jill Tonne, whose support and leadership helped make this restoration effort possible.

Because of their efforts, the Quincy Valley Safety Rest Area is beginning a new chapter — one that will provide shade, beauty, and a welcoming place to rest for travelers for decades to come.

Children and adults from the Quincy Valley worked side by side on May 12, 2026 planting trees at the Quincy Valley Rest Area off State Route 28. The children belonged to local 4-H clubs.

Shaping the future of Paradise Lake Road at SR 522

By: Zack Howard

Your input helped us understand your active transportation priorities for Paradise Lake Road around the new SR 522 Interchange.

Spring is a season of growth. That is also true for our state routes. With your help, we are “planting the seeds” for road improvements. These changes will reflect how you use these roads every day. The State Route (SR) 522 project includes:

• Widening SR 522 to two lanes in each direction.
• Building a new eastbound bridge near Fales Road and Echo Lake Road.
• Replacing the Paradise Lake Road intersection with an interchange and bike and pedestrian pathways.
• Installation of four roundabouts along Paradise Lake Road to help transition between highways and local streets
• Removing barriers to help fish swim through local streams.

Community engagement over the last year has focused on active transportation - person-powered ways of getting around, such as walking, biking or rolling - on SR 524/Paradise Lake Road near the new SR 522 interchange. When we launched our online open house and survey in October 2025, the community showed up in a big way. Nearly 1,800 people shared their feedback, helping us better understand what’s working, what’s challenging, and priorities for active transportation.

Project Vicinity Map showing SR 522 between Paradise Lake Road in Maltby and the Snohomish River

Reaching the community

We asked for your feedback to help improve active transportation on SR 524/Paradise Lake Road at the new SR 522 interchange.

Our online open house and survey were open for public participation from October 1 to October 27, 2025. We received 1,788 responses We appreciate everyone who took the time to share their ideas.

To spread the word, we mailed more than 4,500 postcards to local homes and businesses. We also used social media, email newsletters, and our website to reach as many people as possible near the project.

Below is a summary of what we heard and how your feedback shaped our plans.

What we heard: How people travel through this area

Survey responses indicate that about 70% of respondents walk, bike or roll through the area daily, multiple times per day, or on a weekly basis.

Travelers also shared what would make them feel more comfortable, walking, biking or rolling. Many people asked for wider sidewalks and more places to cross the street. Others suggested adding bike lanes and better lighting. These ideas show exactly what we need to help people feel more confident moving through the community.

What we heard: Where people would like to access as a pedestrian or on a bike

Open-ended survey questions helped us better understand where community members would like to go by walking, biking or rolling but currently feel unable to because of lack of existing infrastructure. Responses revealed four main themes:

• Access to nearby cities such as Woodinville, Snohomish, and Monroe.
• Access to specific destinations such as Paradise Valley Conservation Area, the Maltby Café, and local schools.
• General access improvements, such as better connections to trails or improved infrastructure that would allow them to walk or roll to a wider range of places.
• More general concerns, with bike and pedestrian safety being the most frequently mentioned issue.

Overall, we heard that people wanted more space for walking, biking and rolling so that they could access these and other destinations.

How community feedback informed the recommended corridor vision

Feedback from our survey and meetings helped the team choose a preferred design for active transportation.

Feedback and our analysis showed that two designs were the top choices:

• Separated directional bike lanes at the sidewalk level
• Separated two-directional bike lanes at the sidewalk level

Survey results showed that people who live, work and attend school in the area prefer these two options. Local school families told us that walking and biking to school are important ways for students to get around.

Many people shared thoughts on “shared-use” paths. They noted that these paths mix people walking with people biking at higher speeds. This can be difficult for younger children or large families. By keeping walkers and bikers in their own spaces, we provide a better experience for those going to and from school. This design helps everyone move through the area more smoothly.

What’s next?

This project is not currently funded for construction. In the meantime, WSDOT will continue advancing the design phase, along with environmental permitting and right-of-way acquisition. We’ll continue to work with partners and the community to finish the design. This ensures the project will be ready when construction is funded.

We’ll keep the project webpage updated throughout the process. The community input we receive continues to be a valuable part of this process and ensures a strong path forward for the corridor.

Learn more and stay informed

We are committed to transparency throughout this process and your feedback and voice make a difference. Thanks for helping to make this community driven.

Project webpage

Visit the project page for the latest updates, detailed information and recordings/presentations from our Advisory Group meetings.

Email updates: Sign up for news and study updates.

Contact Info

Danielle Morgan
Communications
206-482-2282
Danielle.Morgan@wsdot.wa.gov

Detours ahead: Fish frenzy brings two highway closures to south Kitsap County

By Angela Cochran and Mark Krulish

Q: What is black and white and rolls around the Puget Sound but is definitely not a soccer ball?

A: An orca.

This wasn’t a very good joke (we made it up). But we wanted to tie in fish passage with this summer’s big soccer championship. You know the one. We can’t say the name for legal reasons, but it’s in Seattle. Athletes from around the “world” are going to be there. The title includes another word for a beverage container.

We spotted a pod of orcas playing near the Tacoma Narrows Bridge last September.

Anyway, one of the benefits of removing barriers to fish is feeding orcas! We’re doing our part to appease our marine overlords (well, at least they might see it that way).

If you live in Kitsap or Mason County and plan on attending any of the games, you’ll want to plan extra travel time.

Although the matches don’t start until June, we’ve already started work at two fish passage projects. One is in the Gorst area. That project ultimately will remove barriers to fish at five locations along State Route 3, SR 16 and SR 166. The other fish barrier is south of Port Orchard under SR 160, known to most as Sedgwick Road.

Fish passage projects will close two highways on the same day in Kitsap County. SR 3 will close near Sunnyslope Road, and SR 160 will close near Long Lake Road.

Double red card

We plan on closing both SR 3 and SR 160 (Sedwick Road) on the same day, Saturday, June 13. We know that any road closure is at the least inconvenient. The closures will allow crews to remove and replace the highway in a relatively short time. SR 3 will be closed for 16 days so crews can install a new culvert that allows fish migration. Sedgwick Road will close for about four months while crews build a new bridge over Salmonberry Creek.

For both locations, closing the road means faster construction time and reduced environmental effects from building roads in wetlands. For the SR 3 location, it also comes with a cost savings of about half a million dollars.

Please note that we’re well aware of what’s happening in Seattle and the number of tourists who’ll surely visit this side of Puget Sound. We’ve done a lot to limit construction effects in the Greater Seattle area due to the tournament that we can’t legally name (rhymes with pearled pup). At the same time, we have a limited time period that we can work in a stream. This is determined by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife when fish are less active, and it varies by location. Plus, we’re under a federal court injunction to remove hundreds of barriers to fish by 2030, and that isn’t too far away.

SR 160/Sedgwick Road closure near Port Orchard

Travelers will see two signed detours for the SR 160 closure. 

If you’re headed towards the Southworth ferry, be prepared to take a short detour around a closure on Sedgwick Road (SR 160). In the late evening on Saturday, June 13, the highway will close between Blackberry Hill Lane and Long Lake Road until the end of October.

• Drivers will use Jackson Avenue, Salmonberry Road and Long Lake Road to get around the closure.
• People who walk, roll or bike will use Phillips Road, Salmonberry Road, Long Lake Road and Lakeview Drive.

Once the roadway reopens, work will stop until crews return in summer 2027 to remove the culvert and recreate the stream. The work at Salmonberry is one part of a larger fish barrier removal effort. A second location at Blackjack Creek on SR 16 near the Sedgwick Road interchange is scheduled to be complete in fall 2026.

SR 3 closure near Gorst

The morning of Saturday, June 13, we’re planning on closing a section of SR 3 between Belfair and Bremerton. The highway will remain closed around the clock for 16 days.

SR 3 travelers should plan extra time for the detour route. Signed detours will be available for people who drive, walk, roll or bike.

During the closure, our contractor will remove a section of the roadway near Sunnyslope Road Southwest. A new 150-foot-long box culvert will replace the smaller, outdated culvert under the highway.

SR 3 will remain open to residential and business traffic just north and south of the construction work zone. We’ll also have signed detours so you can still get to your destination with a little advanced planning.

While SR 3 is closed, travelers will see three signed detour routes:

• Drivers will use Sunnyslope Road Southwest and Southwest Lake Flora Road.
• People who walk, roll or bike can use Northeast Old Belfair Highway/West Belfair Valley Road.
• Commercial vehicles will be routed to SR 16 and SR 302.

Crews will work double shifts to make sure the work is completed on time.

While we are pretty sure that the SR 3 closure will happen on June 13, the schedule may change for a couple of reasons. The new culvert is being assembled off-site. If there are any issues with the assembly process, the closure could happen later. We are also waiting for the creek to dry out. Gorst Creek is a seasonal stream. This means that at some point during the warmer months, there is very little to no water in the stream. If we get a lot of rain between now and the closure date, we may need to divert the water, which can take more time to set up. We will continue to monitor the culvert assembly and weather for changes. We’ll update the project webpage and real-time travel map as schedules are finalized.

A larger concrete culvert will replace the current one under the highway. The blue flags mark the corners of the new culvert.

Why we remove fish barriers in seasonal streams

Some streams have seasonal flow, which means they may be dry at times, but they are still important to fish. For example, chum and pink salmon fry migrate directly to saltwater shortly after emerging from gravels in the spring. So, a stream that dries during the summer is not a concern for their life cycle. These streams can also sustain young or juvenile coho salmon. According to researchers, this is because there are often residual pools scattered through watersheds where they can wait out the dry periods. In these situations, young fish can benefit from using seasonal streams. It has been documented in studies linked on the Washington State Department of National Resources and on the Forest Service and U.S. Department of Agriculture websites, juvenile coho using seasonal streams are larger and have a greater chance of survival than streams with year-round flow. Researchers think that this may be due to reduced competition for food resources compared to year-round streams.

Gorst Creek potentially supports chum, coho, steelhead, sea-run cutthroat and resident trout.

SR 16 construction

Work is underway on SR 16 near Tremont Street West. People will see nighttime lane closures for early work and into construction as crews start building a temporary bypass road. The temporary bypass road will have two lanes in each direction. Travelers will also see detours for people who walk, roll and bike. Once the bypass road is in place, crews will start work digging up the highway. Travelers will see the speed limit temporarily reduced from 60 mph to 45 mph. A bridge will replace the outdated culvert under the highway. We expect this site to take two years to complete with work pausing for winter.

During work on SR 16, a signed detour via SR 16 Spur, Feigley Road and Southwest Old Clifton Road will be available for people who walk, bike or roll.

Future work

Work is also planned at three other locations: SR 16 in Gorst, the intersection of SR 3, SR 16 spur and West Sam Christopherson Avenue in Gorst, and Southeast Mile Hill Drive (SR 166) near Veterans Memorial Park in east Port Orchard. We are still working through some details on start dates and how traffic will move through these work zones. We do know that travelers will see lane closures as well as detours for people who walk, roll or bike.

Travel tools

No matter which work zone you need to navigate through this summer and beyond, we will get you where you need to go. It just may take a little longer than usual.

Make sure to check our online open house for the latest updates. You can also sign up for email alerts on state highway projects happening in Kitsap County. Download our app for real-time traffic information and alerts.