State Transportation Secretary Roger Millar led the list of dignitaries, “it’s about connecting the Port of Tacoma to the interstate system, and the transcontinental rail system to make the port even more competitive on the world market.”
For decades there has been no direct link between the Port and Interstate 5, consequently the trip is a grind. Fife City Councilmember Pat Hulcy understood the significance, “it was first talked about, not in this route, but it was first talked about when Kennedy was in the administration.” That would be President John F Kennedy in the early 1960’s.
Dick Marzano, a member of the port commission, was almost giddy “the port has invested hundreds of millions to ensure and increase the movement of goods through our gateway and beyond. But we will not be successful unless projects like this are done.”
The raised expressway is being built near highway 167. Andrea Reay, with the Tacoma-Pierce Chamber of Commerce, expects new businesses and jobs will follow, “With a projected workforce impact of 80,000 jobs, (it) will be part of building generational wealth.”
The expressway should be complete in about 3-years.
