Improving the drive: A sneak peek into the future of SR 167

By Julie Moon

Get ready for changes on State Route 167, as we make transformative upgrades to the existing toll system. The SR 167 Corridor Improvements Project began construction the week of October 16 and is scheduled to be complete and open to traffic by December 2025. The project is divided into two smaller parts: the SR 167 Toll Equipment Upgrade and the SR 167, SR 516 to South 277th Street Southbound Auxiliary Lane.

Part 1: SR 167 Toll Equipment Upgrade

In 2008, we opened the first High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes in our state, on SR 167, giving drivers a new option to pay for a faster trip when needed. With the existing SR 167 HOT lanes tolling equipment reaching the end of its service life, we plan to update the SR 167 toll system to create consistency for drivers along the I-405/SR 167 corridor. This project will upgrade the original SR 167 toll equipment to be the same as the Interstate 405 toll equipment, resulting in a continuous 50-mile I-405/SR 167 express toll lane system. The long-term vision includes a 50-mile express toll lane system between SR 512 in Puyallup and the I-405/I-5 interchange in Lynnwood.

SR 167 user benefits with the upgraded toll system include:

• New payment options like pay by mail
• Destination-based toll pricing
• Double white buffer lines between the general-purpose lanes and express toll lanes in select areas for increased safety

Part of the SR 167 Corridor Improvements Project will be upgrading tolling systems and infrastructure
to create a more seamless experience for drivers.

Part 2: SR 167, SR 516 to South 277th Street Southbound Auxiliary Lane

We also plan to construct an auxiliary lane on southbound SR 167 between the SR 516 and South 277th Street interchanges in Kent.

Currently, heavy on-ramp and off-ramp volumes at these interchanges cause a bottleneck on SR 167. The future southbound auxiliary lane will help cars merge and switch lanes more easily between these interchanges. It will also boost safety performance and keep traffic flowing smoother in the area.

The SR 167 Corridor Improvements Project is comprised of the SR 167 Toll Equipment Upgrade (shown in green) and the SR 167/SR 516 to South 277th Street Southbound Auxiliary Lane (shown in blue)

What’s happening right now?

People in the SR 167 area will see crews doing preliminary daytime surveying and nighttime soil condition evaluation work. which is expected to last until mid-November. Expect daytime shoulder closures and nighttime ramp and lane closures throughout the SR 167 corridor. Construction work may also produce higher noise levels and vibrations in addition to usual traffic sounds but in general, traffic affects should be minimal.

Know before you go!

The best way to stay up to date is to follow us @WSDOT_Traffic on Twitter and check our real-time Traffic Map to see how things look. People can also subscribe to the weekly Eastside of Lake Washington Transportation newsletter, and download our app.

Anyone with questions about this closure and the project can call the I-405/SR 167 Program voicemail inbox at 425-456-8585 or email us at i405sr167program@wsdot.wa.gov.