Marine View Drive travelers should slow down, allow extra travel time and watch for signs and flaggers as work on a habitat site near Hylebos Creek increases the number of trucks on the roadway through the summer, according to Port of Tacoma officials.

Beginning June 28, Tacoma tideflats drivers can expect an additional 100 to 150 trucks per day hauling soil from the site at the south end curve of Marine View Drive.

Trucks are expected to roll between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday into September.

They will travel along State Route 509 and 54th Avenue to reach Interstate 5 on their way to a landfill in East Pierce County.

Excavating and hauling away about 160,000 tons of contaminated and unsuitable soil is the first step in enhancing and restoring what will become a premier habitat site.

The Port of Tacoma bought the former Parsons property in 2005 for future habitat mitigation and restoration. Its tidally influenced location near the mouth of the salmon-bearing Hylebos Creek makes it especially valuable as restored habitat.

It also sits next to habitat sites restored by other organizations, providing broader environmental benefit by connecting several restored areas along the creek.

The Port’s construction plans include removing contaminated and unsuitable soils, filling and grading a former gravel mine, demolishing structures from a former concrete recycling facility, creating suitable habitat and planting native vegetation.

When the restoration is complete, the property will provide about 23 acres of freshwater and intertidal marsh, forested upland and riparian habitat along Hylebos Creek. It will provide resting and feeding areas for young salmon before they head out to Puget Sound, as well as a home to native plants, waterfowl and other wildlife.

The site’s complete design, restoration and ongoing monitoring is expected to cost about $12 million.

The entire restoration is expected to be completed before the end of the year.

On May 20, Port of Tacoma Commissioners approved a $2 million contract to Tucci and Sons of Tacomato remove contaminated and unsuitable soils, filling and grading a former gravel mine, demolishing structures from a former concrete recycling facility, creating suitable habitat and planting native vegetation to meet local, state, tribal and federal requirements. The Port received nine bids, ranging from a high of $3.5 million to a low of $2 million, submitted by Tucci and Sons, of Tacoma.

Work is expected to generate about 25 construction jobs. The restoration is expected to be completed before the end of the year.

Find maps, descriptions of the habitat and updates on its progress at http://www.portoftacoma.com/hylebos-creek.