The Canyon Road Regional Connection Project will extend Canyon Road East from Pioneer Way East to 70th Avenue East in Fife – completing an important connection between Frederickson and the Port of Tacoma.
Pierce County and our partners are moving forward with the next set of improvements between the Frederickson Industrial Area and the Port of Tacoma, offering big benefits for drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians and freight haulers in this growing area.
Pierce County is working closely with the City of Fife, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, BNSF Railway and Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to ensure the Canyon Road Regional Connection Project serves all the jurisdictions and communities along the corridor.
Pierce County is currently conducting an environmental review of the River Crossing portion of the project to evaluate how the project could affect the built and natural environment, as well as the people who live, work, and play in the project area. We hosted an online open house from August 16 – September 26 to get feedback on what we have learned so far. We are drafting a summary of our responses to the questions and comments we received, and we will post it here soon.
On September 15, we held a virtual Town Hall covering the same information found on the online open house. The purpose was to give community members an opportunity to hear directly from project staff and to have their questions answered in real time. You can view the recording of the virtual Town Hall, see the slides that were presented, and read a summary of the meeting.
The Canyon Road Regional Connection Project will create a more direct north-south corridor from the Frederickson Industrial Area to the Port of Tacoma.
The project has two elements: the Railroad Crossing and the River Crossing. The Railroad Crossing includes planned improvements to extend Canyon Road East from Pioneer Way East, over the BNSF Railroad, to 52nd Street East. The River Crossing includes planned improvements to extend Canyon Road East from 52nd Street East, across the Puyallup River, to 70th Avenue East in the City of Fife.
This project will support the local economy, provide new route options and reduce travel times. In addition, Pierce County will invest more than $1.5 million in environmental mitigation by restoring wetlands and improving salmon habitat.
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Extends Canyon Road East from south of Pioneer Way East to 52nd Street East and from 52nd Street to 70th Avenue East.
Builds a bridge over the BNSF Railroad to separate vehicles on the road from train traffic.
Builds a new, more efficient bridge over the Puyallup River, including improved bicycle and pedestrian connections, and removes the existing Milroy Bridge.
Constructs stormwater treatment and storage facilities.
Installs new traffic signals, curbs, gutters and sidewalks.
Creates a wetland mitigation site and other environmental improvements.
Visualization of the future River Crossing.
Pierce County has already invested nearly $138 million in improvements to the Canyon Road corridor over decades. We added lanes, installed new lights and traffic signals, added medians and built new pedestrian facilities, among other improvements.
To make the final connection, construction on the project—including both the Railroad and River Crossing portions—is scheduled to start in 2025, pending funding.
NEPA*
Design and Permitting
Property Acquisition
Construction
Planning and Design
Design and Permitting
Property Acquisition
NEPA / SEPA*
Construction
* NEPA refers to the National Environmental Policy Act. SEPA refers to the State Environmental Policy Act.
Design and property acquisition are fully funded through a combination of Pierce County and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funds. Current funding sources for construction include Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board (FMSIB), BNSF Railroad and Pierce County. We are pursuing all funding opportunities to fill the remaining funding gap for construction.
Four other county road projects within the Canyon Road corridor are also in the works to support this connection.
