Longer, wider, brighter! SR 7 on-ramp to SR 512 improvements complete near Lakewood

$1 million project will help current and future corridor management

LAKEWOOD - Construction on a project to improve the State Route 7 ramp to eastbound SR 512 near Lakewood has finished.

Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation wrapped up ramp improvements on Oct. 15. Work included extending and widening the ramp and adding new lighting.

More room to merge

To help improve traffic flow for people entering and traveling on SR 512, crews extended the merge lane by about 840 feet. That's more than 20 school buses long. Technology installed under the pavement collects data and adjusts the timing of the ramp meters. Additional lighting helps increase sight distance at night.

Traffic management

Crews also installed a new Wavetronix data sensor along SR 512 near the I-5 interchange. The sensor collects information about traffic volumes that will be used for work zone planning, traffic analysis and future corridor management. The data sensor uses radar and does not have a camera.

For information about highway construction happening in Pierce County, people can sign up for email updates. Real-time traffic information is available on the statewide travel map and WSDOT app.