SR 7 daytime closures set to start July 22; traffic diverted through Eatonville

Slope stabilization work,which will cause daytime closures on State Route 7 near La Grande, is expected to start next Monday, July 22, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.

During daytime hours, drivers will follow a 10-mile detour through Eatonville heading north SR 161 from Highway 7 and then east and south via the Alder Cutoff Road East. The detour is expected to add 10 minutes of travel time for motorists heading south on SR 7. 

Contractor crews working for the WSDOT will remove trees, rocks and brush to reduce the chance of that material falling onto SR 7 between La Grande and Alder, between mileposts 23 and 25.

The actual start date could be affected by weather and other conditions.

What this means for travelers

* Both directions of SR 7 will close from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, Monday through Thursday between La Grande and Alder. 
During daytime hours, drivers will follow a 10-mile detour that adds approximately 10 minutes of travel time through Eatonville using SR 161 and the Alder Cutoff Road East.

* On Fridays, SR 7 will have alternating one-way traffic from 6 a.m. to noon, controlled by flaggers. No work is allowed from noon Friday to 6 a.m. Monday.

* Local access on SR 7 will be provided up to where crews are working.

* The contractor will reopen SR 7 to traffic between mileposts 23 and 25 during overnight hours.

The project is expected to be completed in fall 2019. 

Puget Sound area drivers can get real-time traveler information on their phone with the WSDOT traffic app, follow the WSDOT regional Twitter feed, and get advanced information from the Pierce County construction page. 

Safety tips for driving through work zones

* Pay attention - driver inattention is the number one cause of work zone accidents.

* Leave room between you and the car ahead of you - most work zone accidents involve someone running into the car ahead of them.

* Drive defensively - be aware of what is happening around you.

* Don’t use cell phones or adjust your radio while driving.

Information on the Web 

 * SR 7 between La Grande and Alder: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr7/alder-rock/home

* Detour: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr7/alder-rock/map

* WSDOT regional Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/wsdot_tacoma

* Pierce County construction:   www.wsdot.wa.gov/construction/pugetsound/tacoma.htm