ORTING VALLEY E/W CONNECTION STUDY

Pierce County study to determine best alternative
to provide an east/west corridor connecting the Bonney Lake and South Hill Plateaus

 

STUDY UPDATE 11/17/25:

Currently, PC Public Works is searching for a study consultant to manage the project. 

  • The predesign study will include geological and environmental analysis, and altenative decision will take 1.5 years.  This study phase has been funded.

  • The engineering, EIS, and design will follow and take another 1.5 years. This study phase is NOT FUNDED.

  • The construction phase to include contractor award and buildout will take 5 years and is NOT FUNDED.

 

ALTRNATIVES INCLUDE:

1. WIDEN MILITARY ROAD, USING SR162 TO CONNECT 128TH ST E (TEHALEH HWY) TO MILITARY ROAD

(see widening design HERE)

 

2. EXTEND 128TH ST E BY BUILDING NEW ROADWAY TO RESERVOIR ROAD ON PUYALLUP SOUTH HILL THAT WILL CONNECT TO 128th St E TO CREATE AN E/W CORRIDOR TO SR7

 

3. EXTEND 128th St E BY BUILDING A NEW ROADWAY TO 144 St E ON SOUTH HILL CONNECTING TO 122nd Ave E

  • We think that it is obvious that Military Road is not an acceptable alternative due to cost, environmental issues, and extended construction closure

  • We think that the 144th St E alternative does not connect to a E/W corridor to SR7

  • We proposed the extension to Reservoir Rd (which turns into 128th St E)

  • Why we think alternative 2 is best:

    • Proposal would remove over 1000 vehicles per hour from SR162 during evening commute

    • Provides A direct route for Tehaleh plateau east-west travels to/from South Hill

    • New corridor would scale undeveloped hillside without displacing residents

    • Hillside road will connect to Reservoir Rd E that turns back into 128th St E across South Hill

    • 128th St E provides an east/west connection to South Hill N/S arterials providing a more even disbursement of traffic entering South Hill transportation network

    • Reduces east-west Tehaleh traffic on Military Road

    • Provides designated E/W freight corridor with climbing lane, removing freight traffic from Military Rd by applying load restrictions to Military

    • Provides an east/west route to SR161 businesses and services

 

(see map of 128th St E extension to Reservoir Rd)

 

         (SEE MAP OF OUR NEW CORRIDOR PROPOSAL HERE)

 

PIERCE COUNTY ACTION TAKEN

  • Pierce County has adopted into the county Comprehensive Plan a proposed designated E/W corridor

    • Extending 128th St E from SR162 to Reservoir Rd/128th St E (on South Hill)

    • Making improvements to 128th St E to SR7

    • Providing first county E/W corridor from Bonney Lake plateau to central Pierce County

  • County has funded study to make an connecting 128th St E in Orting Valley to SouthHill Puyallup

    • Study includes 3 alternatives

      1. Military Rd widening

      2. Connecting 128th St E from SR162 to Reservoir Rd/128th St E on South Hill

      3. Connection 128th St E from SR162 to 144th St E on South Hill

  • WSDOT with Pierce County conducted a study for a new east/west corridor from SR162 to I-5

    • Purpose was to evaluate impacts of E/W travel on N/S state corridor (SR161, 162, 7)

    • Study included connecting 128th St E from SR162 to South Hill plateau

    • Study only provided data without recommendations to Pierce County 

  • In 2021 Pierce County has performed a computer model for extending 128th St E at SR162 to the South Hill plateau

    • That model had favorable results

    • This may make the extension of 128th St E a viable option for the larger east/west corridor study

  • Pierce County studied Military Road improvements

 

HISTORY OF NEW TEHALEH HIGHWAY DECISION

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

  • ORDINANCE called for the establishment of a new arterial corridor from Tehaleh (and Falling Waters) to 128th St E and SR162

  • PURPOSE was to improve east-west mobility for the Orting Plateau (Tehaleh/Falling Waters developments)

  • MILITARY ROAD was considered the east-west link west of SR162 for plateau traffic (putting over 1000 vehicles per hour onto SR162 destined for South Hill Puyallup via Military Road)

 

IMPACTS TO SR162 TRAFFIC

  • SR162 traffic will bottleneck at this one mile corridor as Tehaleh traffic connects to Military Road to South Hill Puyallup

  • Over two thousand vehicles will be using this east/west corridor each day linking Tehaleh to South Hill Puyallup

  • Heavy left turn traffic at 128th St E and at Military Road on this section of SR162 causing further delays in traffic movement

 

IMPACTS TO MILITARY ROAD

  • 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 SR162 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 on SR162 this scenrio will worsen

 

     * County study - 2035 projections

     * 2018 Transportation Discipline Report - figure 4-9

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