MILITARY ROAD'S FUTURE
 

Dramatic volume changes are coming to Military Road

between SR162 and South Hill

 

REASONS WHY

PIERCE COUNTY COUNCIL PASSED ORDINANCE NO 208-28s IN JUNE OF 2008 

• ORDINANCE called for the establishment of a new arterial corridor from Bonney Lake developments (Tehaleh, Falling Waters, etc.) to 128th St E and SR162 called New Rhodes Lake Road East (we call it the Tehaleh highway)
• PURPOSE was to improve east-west mobility for the Bonney Lake Plateau 
• MILITARY ROAD was considered the east-west link west of SR162 for plateau to plateau traffic

 

UPDATE:  NEW RHODES LAKE ROAD EAST (Tehaleh highway) NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION

 

IMPACTS TO MILITARY ROAD

TRAFFIC VOLUME

• 2018 Pierce County AADT (Annual Average Daily Traffic) Report
  • In last 5 years 60% increase in amount of traffic on Military Road west of SR162
  • Traffic on this corridor increasing annually WITHOUT added Tehaleh traffic

 

• Projected Military Road peak hour traffic numbers (increase from Tehaleh traffic)
  • 2,606* vehicles per peak commuting hour traveling UP and DOWN Military Road
    • Currently 955* vehicles both directions
  • 1,319* vehicles per peak commute hour UP (westbound) Military Road
    • Currently 505* vehicles Up 
  • 1,287** vehicles per peak commute hour DOWN (eastbound) Military Road
    • Currently 450* vehicles Down

 

• SR162/Military Road Intersection
  • Increase in the number of left turns northbound on SR162
  • Causing further delays to north/south travel times

 

• Access/Egress to Military Road by surrounding residents
  • Volume will prevent entry from driveways and adjacent residential streets
  • If a roundabout is installed at SR162 same scenrio will result

 

         * 2018 Transportation Discipline Report - figure 4-9

         ** 2017 Tehaleh EBPC Phase 2 SEIS - figure 3-5

 

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

• Hillside streams would be impacted by road widening

• Noise and air pollution to residents from climbing trucks

• Wetlands impacts from expanded roadway

 

PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES

• Resident access/egress safety 

• Unsafe multimodal access

 

SOLUTIONS

EXTENSION OF THE NEW RHODES LAKE ROAD EAST CORRIDOR (TEHALEH HIGHWAY) TO SHARE PLATEAU TO PLATEAU TRAFFIC WITH CURRENT MILITARY ROAD

• Two possible connections at 144th St E or 128th St E (Reservoir Road)
• New corridor will scale undeveloped hillside avoiding costly residential displacement
• Reduces east-west mobility volumes from Military Road
• Lower mobility volumes reduces the level of upgrades needed to Military Road 
• Completes an east/west connection between Bonney Lake and South Hill plateaus
• Provides Bonney Lake plateau residents a direct connection to SR161 businesses and South Hill medical facilities
• Provides 

  • SEE MAP   (map does not show Reservoir Rd, 128th St E option)

 

WHAT CAN WE DO?

• ENCOURAGE PIERCE COUNTY TO PERSUE THE EXTENSION OF THE RHODES LAKE ROAD EAST (TEHALEH HIGHWAY) TO SOUTH HILL
  • 128th St. E needs to be extended west from SR162 by building a new roadway
  • This new road would scale hillside to 144th St E or Reservoir Rd on the South Hill plateau
  • Corridor would allow connection to north/south corridor 122nd Ave E or continue west
  • Traffic could service SR161 businesses and South Hill medical facilities
  • Offers east/west mobility REDUNDANCY with Military Road