SR-512 Litter Removal Project To Cause Significant Delays Next Week

PUYALLUP, WA — Commuters in the Puyallup area are being warned to expect some delays the next few weeks, as a Washington State Department of Transportation project will be blocking traffic on SR-512.

Starting Monday, WSDOT will be closing the left lanes of eastbound SR-512, allowing Washington State Department of Ecology crews to remove trash from the center median. While the effort will help beautify the roadway, it means drivers will have to deal with a few days of congestion.

The work will ultimately span five miles of closures over four days, and may lead to long backups, warns WSDOT. The closures will run each day from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in two-mile increments along the highway.

The closure schedule is:

Eastbound SR 512

• Monday, April 18: Pacific Avenue/SR 7 to Portland Avenue East
• Tuesday, April 19: Woodland Avenue East to SR 161
• Wednesday, April 20: North Meridian to Benston Drive East

Westbound SR 512

• Monday, April 25: South Meridian to SR 161
• Tuesday, April 26: South Fruitland Avenue East to Portland Avenue East

WSDOT is thanking commuters for their patience during this construction project, and reminding the community that this wouldn't have been necessary if drivers were more careful about preventing roadside litter. To prevent litter from piling up along our highways, WSDOT says the public should:

• Properly cover and tie down all loads on all trips.
• Keep trash and debris securely gathered in vehicles, so it doesn’t fall or fly out of vehicles.
• Properly dispose of all trash in a vehicle litter bag or in a bin at a destination.
• Share litter prevention messages with family and friends. Visit org and SecureLoadsWA.org for litter prevention tips.
• If able, consider creating an Adopt-a-Highway group to join the valuable volunteers who help clear roadsides and other rights of way.