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State Route 512 (Washington)
Encyclopedia
State Route 512 is a 12.06 miles (19.41 km) long state-maintained
freeway serving southern Pierce County
in the U.S. state
of Washington. The freeway begins at a partial cloverleaf interchange with (I-5) in Lakewood
and travels east past in Parkland
and a concurrency
with to a trumpet interchange with and SR 161 in Puyallup
.
SR 512 originally began as county roads until 1937, when it became Secondary State Highway 5G (SSH 5G) and ran from (PSH 5) in Puyallup west to south of Tacoma
. In a 1964 state highway renumbering, SSH 5G became SR 512 and by 1972, the original 2-lane road was expanded to a four-lane divided
freeway. Recent proposals to control growing traffic on the freeway have included interchange upgrades and high-occupancy vehicle lane
s (HOV lanes).
. The freeway continues southeast to a partial cloverleaf interchange with Steele Street before interchanging with , locally named Pacific Avenue, and 108th Street in Parkland
. From the interchange, the highway passes Franklin Pierce High School
, a pedestrian overpass
and a railroad overpass operated by Tacoma Rail
before a diamond interchange
with Portland Avenue in Midland
. After leaving Midland, SR 512 continues east through several suburbs, passing the Canyon Road diamond interchange in Summit
, the freeway enters Puyallup
and interchanges with 94th Avenue and , both of which provide access to the nearby South Hill Mall
. SR 161 begins a concurrency
at its interchange and the roadway continues north and turns east to interchange Meridian Avenue in downtown Puyallup. After resuming its northbound direction, the freeway intersects Pioneer Avenue in a partial cloverleaf interchange and crosses over a BNSF Railway
line and the Puyallup River
. SR 512 terminates shortly after crossing the river at a trumpet interchange with and SR 161 west of Sumner
.
, Midland
and Summit
with Puyallup
that existed before 1900. By 1912, a road connecting what is now Lakewood
to the Parkland–Puyallup road. These two roads became Secondary State Highway 5G (SSH 5G), which ran from (PSH 5) in Puyallup south to and west past the Tacoma
–Mount Rainier
branch of PSH 5 to south of Tacoma. Washington renumbered its highways in 1964 and SSH 5G was assigned to become SR 512 when the new system took effect in 1970. In 1970, the new system of state routes took effect and SR 512 was officially established. By 1972, the highway was expanded and reconstructed to become a divided freeway
.
In 2002, the interchange with Interstate 5
was modified from a full cloverleaf to a partial cloverleaf. The Southbound I-5 ramp to SR 512 eastbound was removed. The Southbound to Westbound ramp was modified to accomidate for left turns. In the future, WSDOT plans to again reconstruct this interchange for a full freeway to freeway junction as part of the Interstate 5 HOV project.
.
{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=3|Lakewood
|rowspan=2|0.00
|South Tacoma Way
|Western terminus; at-grade intersection
|-
|, Portland
|
|-
|0.63
|Steele Street
|
|-
|Parkland
|2.22
|
|
|-
|Midland
|3.71
|Portland Avenue – Midland
|
|-
|Summit
|5.86
|Canyon Road – Summit
|
|-
|rowspan=5|Puyallup
|8.37
|9th Street Southwest, 94th Avenue East
|Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
|-
|8.74
|
|West end of SR 161 overlap
|-
|10.06
|Meridian Avenue South – Puyallup
|
|-
|11.12
|Pioneer Avenue East – Orting
, Puyallup
|Former
|-
|12.06
|
|Eastern terminus; Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
State highways in Washington
In the U.S. state of Washington, the Washington State Department of Transportation maintains a network of over 7000 miles of state highways, including all Interstate and U.S. Highways that pass through the state. The system comprises 8.5% of the state's public road mileage, but carries over half...
freeway serving southern Pierce County
Pierce County, Washington
right|thumb|[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]] - Seat of Pierce CountyPierce County is the second most populous county in the U.S. state of Washington. Formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Washington. The freeway begins at a partial cloverleaf interchange with (I-5) in Lakewood
Lakewood, Washington
Lakewood is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 58,163 at the 2010 census.-History:Lakewood was officially incorporated on February 28, 1996. Historical names include Lakewood Center and Lakes District...
and travels east past in Parkland
Parkland, Washington
Parkland is a census-designated place in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,053 at the 2000 census and grew to 35,803 as of the 2010 census...
and a concurrency
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with to a trumpet interchange with and SR 161 in Puyallup
Puyallup, Washington
Puyallup, Washington is a city in Pierce County, Washington about five miles east of Tacoma. The population was 37,022 at the 2010 Census. Named after the Puyallup Tribe of Native Americans, Puyallup means "the generous people."-History:...
.
SR 512 originally began as county roads until 1937, when it became Secondary State Highway 5G (SSH 5G) and ran from (PSH 5) in Puyallup west to south of Tacoma
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
. In a 1964 state highway renumbering, SSH 5G became SR 512 and by 1972, the original 2-lane road was expanded to a four-lane divided
Dual carriageway
A dual carriageway is a class of highway with two carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation...
freeway. Recent proposals to control growing traffic on the freeway have included interchange upgrades and high-occupancy vehicle lane
High-occupancy vehicle lane
In transportation engineering and transportation planning, a high-occupancy vehicle lane is a lane reserved for vehicles with a driver and one or more passengers...
s (HOV lanes).
Route description
SR 512 begins at a partial cloverleaf interchange with (I-5) and South Tacoma Way in LakewoodLakewood, Washington
Lakewood is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 58,163 at the 2010 census.-History:Lakewood was officially incorporated on February 28, 1996. Historical names include Lakewood Center and Lakes District...
. The freeway continues southeast to a partial cloverleaf interchange with Steele Street before interchanging with , locally named Pacific Avenue, and 108th Street in Parkland
Parkland, Washington
Parkland is a census-designated place in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,053 at the 2000 census and grew to 35,803 as of the 2010 census...
. From the interchange, the highway passes Franklin Pierce High School
Franklin Pierce High School
Franklin Pierce High School in Midland, Washington is named after the fourteenth US President, Franklin Pierce, who was president when the Washington Territory was formed in 1853.-Music:Music at Franklin Pierce High School has a rich history...
, a pedestrian overpass
Overpass
An overpass is a bridge, road, railway or similar structure that crosses over another road or railway...
and a railroad overpass operated by Tacoma Rail
Tacoma Rail
Tacoma Rail is a shortline railroad. It is operated as a public utility and owned by the city of Tacoma, Washington as part of the municipally-owned Tacoma Public Utilities service. It provides rail services for freight switching...
before a diamond interchange
Diamond interchange
A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a freeway crosses a minor road. The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge...
with Portland Avenue in Midland
Midland, Washington
Midland is a census-designated place in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 7,414 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Midland is located at ....
. After leaving Midland, SR 512 continues east through several suburbs, passing the Canyon Road diamond interchange in Summit
Summit, Washington
Summit is a census-designated place in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 8,041 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Summit is located at ....
, the freeway enters Puyallup
Puyallup, Washington
Puyallup, Washington is a city in Pierce County, Washington about five miles east of Tacoma. The population was 37,022 at the 2010 Census. Named after the Puyallup Tribe of Native Americans, Puyallup means "the generous people."-History:...
and interchanges with 94th Avenue and , both of which provide access to the nearby South Hill Mall
South Hill Mall
South Hill Mall is an enclosed, super-regional shopping mall located in Puyallup, Washington, USA. Opened in 1988 and expanded in 1992, the mall comprises more than 100 stores, plus a food court and movie theater, in of gross leasable area...
. SR 161 begins a concurrency
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
at its interchange and the roadway continues north and turns east to interchange Meridian Avenue in downtown Puyallup. After resuming its northbound direction, the freeway intersects Pioneer Avenue in a partial cloverleaf interchange and crosses over a BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
line and the Puyallup River
Puyallup River
The Puyallup River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington. About long, it is formed by glaciers on the west side of Mount Rainier. It flows generally northwest, emptying into Commencement Bay, part of Puget Sound...
. SR 512 terminates shortly after crossing the river at a trumpet interchange with and SR 161 west of Sumner
Sumner, Washington
Sumner is a city in northern Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 9,451 at the 2010 census. Nearby cities include Puyallup to the west, Auburn to the north, and Enumclaw to the east.-History:...
.
History
SR 512 originated as a road connecting ParklandParkland, Washington
Parkland is a census-designated place in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,053 at the 2000 census and grew to 35,803 as of the 2010 census...
, Midland
Midland, Washington
Midland is a census-designated place in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 7,414 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Midland is located at ....
and Summit
Summit, Washington
Summit is a census-designated place in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 8,041 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Summit is located at ....
with Puyallup
Puyallup, Washington
Puyallup, Washington is a city in Pierce County, Washington about five miles east of Tacoma. The population was 37,022 at the 2010 Census. Named after the Puyallup Tribe of Native Americans, Puyallup means "the generous people."-History:...
that existed before 1900. By 1912, a road connecting what is now Lakewood
Lakewood, Washington
Lakewood is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 58,163 at the 2010 census.-History:Lakewood was officially incorporated on February 28, 1996. Historical names include Lakewood Center and Lakes District...
to the Parkland–Puyallup road. These two roads became Secondary State Highway 5G (SSH 5G), which ran from (PSH 5) in Puyallup south to and west past the Tacoma
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
–Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier is a massive stratovolcano located southeast of Seattle in the state of Washington, United States. It is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous United States and the Cascade Volcanic Arc, with a summit elevation of . Mt. Rainier is considered one of the most...
branch of PSH 5 to south of Tacoma. Washington renumbered its highways in 1964 and SSH 5G was assigned to become SR 512 when the new system took effect in 1970. In 1970, the new system of state routes took effect and SR 512 was officially established. By 1972, the highway was expanded and reconstructed to become a divided freeway
Dual carriageway
A dual carriageway is a class of highway with two carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation...
.
In 2002, the interchange with Interstate 5
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
was modified from a full cloverleaf to a partial cloverleaf. The Southbound I-5 ramp to SR 512 eastbound was removed. The Southbound to Westbound ramp was modified to accomidate for left turns. In the future, WSDOT plans to again reconstruct this interchange for a full freeway to freeway junction as part of the Interstate 5 HOV project.
Exit list
The entire route is in Pierce CountyPierce County, Washington
right|thumb|[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]] - Seat of Pierce CountyPierce County is the second most populous county in the U.S. state of Washington. Formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory...
.
{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=3|Lakewood
Lakewood, Washington
Lakewood is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 58,163 at the 2010 census.-History:Lakewood was officially incorporated on February 28, 1996. Historical names include Lakewood Center and Lakes District...
|rowspan=2|0.00
|South Tacoma Way
|Western terminus; at-grade intersection
At-grade intersection
An at-grade intersection is a junction at which two or more transport axes cross at the same level .-Traffic management:With areas of high or fast traffic, an at-grade intersection normally requires a traffic control device such as a stop sign, traffic light or railway signal to manage conflicting...
|-
|, Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
|
|-
|0.63
|Steele Street
|
|-
|Parkland
Parkland, Washington
Parkland is a census-designated place in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,053 at the 2000 census and grew to 35,803 as of the 2010 census...
|2.22
|
|
|-
|Midland
Midland, Washington
Midland is a census-designated place in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 7,414 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Midland is located at ....
|3.71
|Portland Avenue – Midland
Midland, Washington
Midland is a census-designated place in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 7,414 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Midland is located at ....
|
|-
|Summit
Summit, Washington
Summit is a census-designated place in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 8,041 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Summit is located at ....
|5.86
|Canyon Road – Summit
Summit, Washington
Summit is a census-designated place in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 8,041 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Summit is located at ....
|
|-
|rowspan=5|Puyallup
Puyallup, Washington
Puyallup, Washington is a city in Pierce County, Washington about five miles east of Tacoma. The population was 37,022 at the 2010 Census. Named after the Puyallup Tribe of Native Americans, Puyallup means "the generous people."-History:...
|8.37
|9th Street Southwest, 94th Avenue East
|Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
|-
|8.74
|
|West end of SR 161 overlap
|-
|10.06
|Meridian Avenue South – Puyallup
Puyallup, Washington
Puyallup, Washington is a city in Pierce County, Washington about five miles east of Tacoma. The population was 37,022 at the 2010 Census. Named after the Puyallup Tribe of Native Americans, Puyallup means "the generous people."-History:...
|
|-
|11.12
|Pioneer Avenue East – Orting
Orting, Washington
Orting is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population as of the 2010 census is 6,746, according to the City of Orting.- History :...
, Puyallup
Puyallup, Washington
Puyallup, Washington is a city in Pierce County, Washington about five miles east of Tacoma. The population was 37,022 at the 2010 Census. Named after the Puyallup Tribe of Native Americans, Puyallup means "the generous people."-History:...
|Former
|-
|12.06
|
|Eastern terminus; Eastbound exit and westbound entrance