MILITARY ROAD'S FUTURE
 

Dramatic volume changes are coming to
Military Road

between SR162 and South Hill
 

REASONS WHY

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

  • ORDINANCE called for the establishment of a new arterial corridor from Bonney Lake developments (Tehaleh, Falling Waters, etc.) to 128th St E and SR162 called New Rhodes Lake Road East (we call it the Tehaleh highway)

  • PURPOSE was to improve east-west mobility for the Bonney Lake Plateau 

  • MILITARY ROAD was considered the east-west link west of SR162 for plateau to plateau traffic

    • YES, THE WINDY TWO-LANE ROAD FROM SR162 TO 122 st E ON SOUTH HILL

UPDATE:  NEW RHODES LAKE ROAD EAST (Tehaleh highway) NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION AT THE END OF 2027

 

PIERCE COUNTYPIERCE COUNTY COUNCIL PASSED ORDINANCE O2024-559 TO STUDY AN ALTERNATIVE TO MILITARY ROAD THAT IS CURRENLY IN PROGRESS.

  • The county has started this study to compare the Military Road improvements to extending 128th St E (McMillin intersection) to Reservoir Rd on South Hill.

  • This is what we call our 128th St E/W connection study on this website.  You can find out more about this study by OR by selecting the "128th ST EXTENSION STUDY" on the menu bar.

  • At best this study will take years so Military Rd in its current condition will be carrying double the volume it carries today until then.

 

WHY NOT MILITARY ROAD AS THE ONLY E/W CORRIDOR

TRAFFIC VOLUME

  • 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 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 at SR162 same scenrio will result

 

         * 2018 Transportation Discipline Report - figure 4-9

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

 

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

  • Hillside streams would be impacted by road widening

  • Noise and air pollution to residents from climbing trucks

  • Wetlands impacts from expanded roadway

 

PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES

  • Resident access/egress safety 

  • Unsafe multimodal access