A road serving thousands of south county commuters each weekday will be closed for five months starting June 23.
The closure of Steele Street South between 112th and 116th streets is required because of a major sewer construction project within the road right of way.
The project involves cutting a ditch more than 30 feet deep and installing a 72-inch sewer interceptor.
Steele Street is a key segment in a north-south commuter route between the Parkland and Spanaway areas and Interstate 5 via State Highway 512. Steele Street merges with Spanaway Loop Road south of 116th Street.
Traffic will be diverted around the construction project on local arterial streets.
We understand this utility project will be a significant disruption for motorists, residents and business people, said Karen Goon, interim director of Pierce County Public Works and Utilities. If there were a way to accomplish the work without closing the road, we would do it. Well do everything possible to minimize negative impacts and ask all affected persons for their patience and understanding.
The detour route will be marked by signs, and flaggers will be positioned along the route to reduce traffic delays as much as possible.
Southbound motorists on Steele Street will be directed to turn left at the 112th Street intersection, following 112th to Ainsworth Avenue. The detour route turns right at Ainsworth and proceeds to Tule Lake Road, where it turns right to Spanaway Loop Road. Northbound motorists will use the same route in the opposite direction.
Electronic reader boards have been installed on Steele Street and State Highway 512 to advise motorists of the pending road closure.
The $12.7 million sewer project, which also includes work on 112th Street west of Steele Street that began in November 2002, is scheduled for completion Nov. 23.
J.W. Fowler Co. of Dallas, Ore., is the general contractor.
