A Major Milestone for South Sound Connectivity

After decades of planning, advocacy, and collaboration, a major piece of the South Sound's transportation future is now open.

On Friday, September 11, the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber joined regional partners to celebrate the opening of the first two-mile segment of the new SR 167 Expressway, connecting I-5 in Fife with SR 509 near the Port of Tacoma. The new segment is part of the Puget Sound Gateway Program, which is completing a six-mile SR 167 connection between the Port of Tacoma and Puyallup.
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For the Chamber, the milestone represents more than a new stretch of highway. It reflects what can happen when businesses, public agencies, labor, community organizations, and regional partners come together around a shared infrastructure priority.

Decades in the Making

The SR 167 connection has been a long-standing regional priority. Work to extend SR 167 and SR 509 toward I-5 dates back to the 1990s, with funding and planning evolving over the decades.

Throughout that process, the Chamber has advocated for infrastructure investments that strengthen freight mobility, improve regional connectivity, and support long-term economic growth.

Completing SR 167 has also been a top legislative priority for RAMP, a regional coalition of business, labor, public and private organizations, and community members working to improve mobility across the South Sound and Washington State.

RAMP is co-chaired by Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello, Port of Tacoma Executive Director Eric Johnson, and Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President & CEO Tom Pierson.

A Stronger Connection for Our Region

The new two-mile expressway provides a more direct connection between I-5 and the Port of Tacoma and is designed to improve freight movement while helping reduce congestion on nearby local streets.

The first segment is the beginning of a larger six-mile corridor that will ultimately connect the Port of Tacoma with Puyallup. Additional sections are currently under construction and are scheduled to open in phases over the coming years.

For a region where the movement of goods, people, and workers plays such an important role in the economy, these connections matter. Reliable transportation infrastructure helps businesses move products, connect to customers and markets, and plan for future growth.

Regional Collaboration in Action

Projects of this scale don't happen because of the work of one organization. They require sustained collaboration across jurisdictions, agencies, businesses, Tribal partners, and communities.

We are proud to have been part of the regional effort advocating for this project and grateful to the many partners who helped bring this milestone to life.
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We also extend our sincere thanks to the Puyallup Tribe of Indians for its partnership and contributions to the project. The SR 167 project is being built on Puyallup Tribe lands, and WSDOT has worked with the Tribe on environmental restoration and other elements of the project.

See the New Expressway for Yourself

The first two-mile segment opened to traffic on Sunday, September 13. While the expressway will eventually be tolled, toll collection is not scheduled to begin until December, giving drivers an opportunity to experience the new route before tolling begins.

So, go take a ride!

The opening of SR 167 is a reminder of what regional collaboration and sustained advocacy can accomplish. We're proud to have played a part in helping move this project forward and excited to see the next pieces of this important connection take shape.