Washington State Route 109
Encyclopedia
State Route 109 is a Washington state highway
in Grays Harbor County
. Beginning at its terminus at (US 101) in Hoquiam
, the highway travels west to intersect north of Ocean Shores
and then turns north to temporarily end at Quinault Street in Taholah
, located in the Quinault Indian Reservation
. The Washington State Legislature
extended the roadway north to end at US 101 south of Queets
through tribal lands, although this segment has yet to be built. SR 109 was first established as (SSH 9C) in 1937, which was on a more northern alignment until 1947, when it was switched to a Hoquiam to Quinault Indian Reservation route. In 1964, SSH 9C was renumbered to SR 109 and in 1983, a spur route
of SR 109 that bypasses
Hoquiam was added; the route was extended to US 101 near Queets in 1985.
. After intersecting the couplet, a daily average of 9,600 motorists in 2007, making it the busiest segment of SR 109; From the intersection with US 101, the highway is named Emerson Avenue and travels west past its couplet, paralleling the Hoquiam–Elma
route of the Puget Sound and Pacific Railroad
. After leaving Downtown Hoquiam and passing the John Gable Community Park, the roadway intersects and then becomes unnamed. After leaving Hoquiam city limits
, the railroad ends and the road turns northwest to north of Ocean Shores
. At the junction, SR 109 curves north along the Pacific Ocean
and passes Ocean City
, Copalis Beach
, Griffiths-Priday State Park
, Pacific Beach
and Moclips
before entering the Quinault Indian Reservation
and Taholah
to end at Quinault Street, located on the bank
of the Quinault River
.
and then traveled west to Pacific Beach
, south to Copalis Beach
and east to end at itself. In 1947, the highway was moved to a route that ran from PSH 9 / US 101 in Hoquiam, west to Ocean City
and north to the southern border of Quinault Indian Reservation
north of Moclips
. Between Hoquiam and Moclips, a Great Northern Railway route named the Moclips spur, ran parallel to the roadway, first appearing on maps in 1951. The road was renumbered to SR 109 during the 1964 highway renumbering; the last time the railroad was shown on maps was in 1968. A bypass
of Downtown Hoquiam was built and signed as a spur route
of SR 109 in 1983. SR 109 was extended by the Washington State Legislature
to US 101 south of Queets
in 1985, but as of 2009, the highway ends at Quinault Street in Taholah
. The roadway will be maintained by the Washington State Department of Transportation
(WSDOT) and will be partially a limited-access road
. The remaining right-of-way would be acquired by WSDOT and the highway could be partially funded by federal funds. The Moclips River Bridge, located in Moclips
, is being replaced because of sediment accumulation. Construction was set to start in 2010, but the work was suspended due to budgetary reasons.
of SR 109 located in Hoquiam
and 1.82 miles (2.93 km) in length. The highway, named Bi Pass Road, bypasses
Downtown Hoquiam and runs from SR 109 to (US 101). The spur route was added in 1983 by the Washington State Legislature
. The busiest segment of SR 109 Spur in 2007 was the US 101 intersection with a daily average of 410 motorists.
.
, Grays Harbor County
.
, Grays Harbor County
.
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...
in Grays Harbor County
Grays Harbor County, Washington
Grays Harbor County is a county in the state of Washington, in the United States of America. As of 2010, the population was 72,797. The county seat is at Montesano, and its largest city is Aberdeen. The county is named after a large estuarine bay near its southwestern corner...
. Beginning at its terminus at (US 101) in Hoquiam
Hoquiam, Washington
Hoquiam is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington state, United States. The town borders the city of Aberdeen at Myrtle Street with Hoquiam to the west. The two cities share a common economic history in lumbering and exporting but Hoquiam has maintained its independent identity...
, the highway travels west to intersect north of Ocean Shores
Ocean Shores, Washington
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 3,836 people, 1,789 households, and 1,198 families residing in the city. The population density was 444.7 people per square mile . There were 3,170 housing units at an average density of 367.5 per square mile...
and then turns north to temporarily end at Quinault Street in Taholah
Taholah, Washington
Taholah is a census-designated place on the Quinault Indian Reservation, in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States. Named for a Quinault chief in 1905, its population was 824 at the 2000 census...
, located in the Quinault Indian Reservation
Quinault (tribe)
The Quinault are a group of Native American peoples from western Washington in the United States.-Lands:The Quinault Indian Reservation, at , is located on the Pacific coast of Washington, primarily in northwestern Grays Harbor County, with small parts extending north into southwestern Jefferson...
. The Washington State Legislature
Washington State Legislature
The Washington State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Washington. It is a bipartisan, bicameral body, composed of the lower Washington House of Representatives, composed of 98 Representatives, and the upper Washington State Senate, with 49 Senators.The State Legislature...
extended the roadway north to end at US 101 south of Queets
Queets, Washington
Queets is an unincorporated community in western Jefferson County, Washington, United States. It is near the coast of the Pacific Ocean, located just north of the Grays Harbor County county line along the Queets River, at the northern edge of the Quinault Indian Reservation. The community is...
through tribal lands, although this segment has yet to be built. SR 109 was first established as (SSH 9C) in 1937, which was on a more northern alignment until 1947, when it was switched to a Hoquiam to Quinault Indian Reservation route. In 1964, SSH 9C was renumbered to SR 109 and in 1983, a spur route
Spur route
A spur route is a short road forming a branch from a longer, more important route . A bypass or beltway is never considered a true spur route as it typically reconnects with the major road...
of SR 109 that bypasses
Bypass (road)
A bypass is a road or highway that avoids or "bypasses" a built-up area, town, or village, to let through traffic flow without interference from local traffic, to reduce congestion in the built-up area, and to improve road safety....
Hoquiam was added; the route was extended to US 101 near Queets in 1985.
Route description
State Route 109 (SR 109) begins at an intersection with (US 101) in downtown HoquiamHoquiam, Washington
Hoquiam is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington state, United States. The town borders the city of Aberdeen at Myrtle Street with Hoquiam to the west. The two cities share a common economic history in lumbering and exporting but Hoquiam has maintained its independent identity...
. After intersecting the couplet, a daily average of 9,600 motorists in 2007, making it the busiest segment of SR 109; From the intersection with US 101, the highway is named Emerson Avenue and travels west past its couplet, paralleling the Hoquiam–Elma
Elma, Washington
Elma is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States. The population was 3,107 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Elma is located at ....
route of the Puget Sound and Pacific Railroad
Puget Sound and Pacific Railroad
The Puget Sound and Pacific Railroad is headquartered in Elma, Washington. The company began operations on August 30, 1997, when the line was purchased from the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway by the ParkSierra Railgroup...
. After leaving Downtown Hoquiam and passing the John Gable Community Park, the roadway intersects and then becomes unnamed. After leaving Hoquiam city limits
City limits
The terms city limits and city boundary refer to the defined boundary or border of a city. The area within the city limits is sometimes called the city proper. The terms town limits/boundary and village limits/boundary mean the same as city limits/boundary, but apply to towns and villages...
, the railroad ends and the road turns northwest to north of Ocean Shores
Ocean Shores, Washington
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 3,836 people, 1,789 households, and 1,198 families residing in the city. The population density was 444.7 people per square mile . There were 3,170 housing units at an average density of 367.5 per square mile...
. At the junction, SR 109 curves north along the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
and passes Ocean City
Ocean City, Washington
Ocean City is a census-designated place in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States. The population was 217 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ocean City is located at ....
, Copalis Beach
Copalis Beach, Washington
Copalis Beach is a census-designated place in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States. The population was 415 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Copalis Beach is located at ....
, Griffiths-Priday State Park
Griffiths-Priday State Park
Griffiths-Priday State Park in Grays Harbor County, Washington is a marine park in the Washington State Parks. It consists of of beach, low dunes, and river mouth with of saltwater shoreline on the Pacific Ocean and of freshwater shoreline on the Copalis River...
, Pacific Beach
Pacific Beach, Washington
Pacific Beach is an unincorporated community in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States, by the Pacific Ocean. There are many hotels there and a stretch of usable beach area is available to those who visit.-History:...
and Moclips
Moclips, Washington
Moclips is a census-designated place in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States. The population was 207 at the 2010 census. It is located near the mouth of the Moclips River....
before entering the Quinault Indian Reservation
Quinault (tribe)
The Quinault are a group of Native American peoples from western Washington in the United States.-Lands:The Quinault Indian Reservation, at , is located on the Pacific coast of Washington, primarily in northwestern Grays Harbor County, with small parts extending north into southwestern Jefferson...
and Taholah
Taholah, Washington
Taholah is a census-designated place on the Quinault Indian Reservation, in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States. Named for a Quinault chief in 1905, its population was 824 at the 2000 census...
to end at Quinault Street, located on the bank
Bank (geography)
A geographic bank has four definitions and applications:# Limnology: The shoreline of a pond, swamp, estuary, reservoir, or lake. The grade can vary from vertical to a shallow slope....
of the Quinault River
Quinault River
The Quinault River is a long river located on the Olympic Peninsula in the U.S. state of Washington. It originates deep in the Olympic Mountains in the Olympic National Park. It flows southwest through the "Enchanted Valley". Several miles above Lake Quinault the river is joined by its main...
.
History
The primary and secondary highways were created in 1937 and one of the secondary highways, (SSH 9C), would later become SR 109. SSH 9C was also established in 1937, but extended from (PSH 9), co-signed as (US 101), north of HoquiamHoquiam, Washington
Hoquiam is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington state, United States. The town borders the city of Aberdeen at Myrtle Street with Hoquiam to the west. The two cities share a common economic history in lumbering and exporting but Hoquiam has maintained its independent identity...
and then traveled west to Pacific Beach
Pacific Beach, Washington
Pacific Beach is an unincorporated community in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States, by the Pacific Ocean. There are many hotels there and a stretch of usable beach area is available to those who visit.-History:...
, south to Copalis Beach
Copalis Beach, Washington
Copalis Beach is a census-designated place in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States. The population was 415 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Copalis Beach is located at ....
and east to end at itself. In 1947, the highway was moved to a route that ran from PSH 9 / US 101 in Hoquiam, west to Ocean City
Ocean City, Washington
Ocean City is a census-designated place in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States. The population was 217 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ocean City is located at ....
and north to the southern border of Quinault Indian Reservation
Quinault (tribe)
The Quinault are a group of Native American peoples from western Washington in the United States.-Lands:The Quinault Indian Reservation, at , is located on the Pacific coast of Washington, primarily in northwestern Grays Harbor County, with small parts extending north into southwestern Jefferson...
north of Moclips
Moclips, Washington
Moclips is a census-designated place in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States. The population was 207 at the 2010 census. It is located near the mouth of the Moclips River....
. Between Hoquiam and Moclips, a Great Northern Railway route named the Moclips spur, ran parallel to the roadway, first appearing on maps in 1951. The road was renumbered to SR 109 during the 1964 highway renumbering; the last time the railroad was shown on maps was in 1968. A bypass
Bypass (road)
A bypass is a road or highway that avoids or "bypasses" a built-up area, town, or village, to let through traffic flow without interference from local traffic, to reduce congestion in the built-up area, and to improve road safety....
of Downtown Hoquiam was built and signed as a spur route
Spur route
A spur route is a short road forming a branch from a longer, more important route . A bypass or beltway is never considered a true spur route as it typically reconnects with the major road...
of SR 109 in 1983. SR 109 was extended by the Washington State Legislature
Washington State Legislature
The Washington State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Washington. It is a bipartisan, bicameral body, composed of the lower Washington House of Representatives, composed of 98 Representatives, and the upper Washington State Senate, with 49 Senators.The State Legislature...
to US 101 south of Queets
Queets, Washington
Queets is an unincorporated community in western Jefferson County, Washington, United States. It is near the coast of the Pacific Ocean, located just north of the Grays Harbor County county line along the Queets River, at the northern edge of the Quinault Indian Reservation. The community is...
in 1985, but as of 2009, the highway ends at Quinault Street in Taholah
Taholah, Washington
Taholah is a census-designated place on the Quinault Indian Reservation, in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States. Named for a Quinault chief in 1905, its population was 824 at the 2000 census...
. The roadway will be maintained by the Washington State Department of Transportation
Washington State Department of Transportation
The Washington State Department of Transportation , was established in 1905. The agency, led by a Secretary and overseen by the Governor, is a Washington governmental agency that constructs, maintains, and regulates the use of the state's transportation infrastructure...
(WSDOT) and will be partially a limited-access road
Limited-access road
A limited-access road known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway and expressway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway , including limited or no access to adjacent...
. The remaining right-of-way would be acquired by WSDOT and the highway could be partially funded by federal funds. The Moclips River Bridge, located in Moclips
Moclips, Washington
Moclips is a census-designated place in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States. The population was 207 at the 2010 census. It is located near the mouth of the Moclips River....
, is being replaced because of sediment accumulation. Construction was set to start in 2010, but the work was suspended due to budgetary reasons.
Spur route
State Route 109 Spur (SR 109 Spur) is a spur routeSpur route
A spur route is a short road forming a branch from a longer, more important route . A bypass or beltway is never considered a true spur route as it typically reconnects with the major road...
of SR 109 located in Hoquiam
Hoquiam, Washington
Hoquiam is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington state, United States. The town borders the city of Aberdeen at Myrtle Street with Hoquiam to the west. The two cities share a common economic history in lumbering and exporting but Hoquiam has maintained its independent identity...
and 1.82 miles (2.93 km) in length. The highway, named Bi Pass Road, bypasses
Bypass (road)
A bypass is a road or highway that avoids or "bypasses" a built-up area, town, or village, to let through traffic flow without interference from local traffic, to reduce congestion in the built-up area, and to improve road safety....
Downtown Hoquiam and runs from SR 109 to (US 101). The spur route was added in 1983 by the Washington State Legislature
Washington State Legislature
The Washington State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Washington. It is a bipartisan, bicameral body, composed of the lower Washington House of Representatives, composed of 98 Representatives, and the upper Washington State Senate, with 49 Senators.The State Legislature...
. The busiest segment of SR 109 Spur in 2007 was the US 101 intersection with a daily average of 410 motorists.
Couplet
Within Hoquiam, SR 109 is split into two streets, Emerson Street is signed as SR 109 northbound and Simpson Avenue is signed as the SR 109 Couplet (eastbound) and runs 0.15 mile (0.241401 km) from SR 109 to a US 101 couplet, which continues south as Simpson Avenue. The daily average of the couplet in 2007 was 4,500 motorists.Major intersections
The highway is located entirely in Grays Harbor CountyGrays Harbor County, Washington
Grays Harbor County is a county in the state of Washington, in the United States of America. As of 2010, the population was 72,797. The county seat is at Montesano, and its largest city is Aberdeen. The county is named after a large estuarine bay near its southwestern corner...
.
| Location | Mile | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoquiam Hoquiam, Washington Hoquiam is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington state, United States. The town borders the city of Aberdeen at Myrtle Street with Hoquiam to the west. The two cities share a common economic history in lumbering and exporting but Hoquiam has maintained its independent identity... |
0.00 | Southern terminus | |
| 0.14 | |||
| 1.79 | |||
| 16.11 | |||
| Taholah Taholah, Washington Taholah is a census-designated place on the Quinault Indian Reservation, in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States. Named for a Quinault chief in 1905, its population was 824 at the 2000 census... |
40.50 | Quinault Street | Temporary northern terminus |
Spur intersections
The spur is located entirely in HoquiamHoquiam, Washington
Hoquiam is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington state, United States. The town borders the city of Aberdeen at Myrtle Street with Hoquiam to the west. The two cities share a common economic history in lumbering and exporting but Hoquiam has maintained its independent identity...
, Grays Harbor County
Grays Harbor County, Washington
Grays Harbor County is a county in the state of Washington, in the United States of America. As of 2010, the population was 72,797. The county seat is at Montesano, and its largest city is Aberdeen. The county is named after a large estuarine bay near its southwestern corner...
.
| Mile | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.00 | Western terminus | |
| 1.82 | Eastern terminus |
Couplet intersections
The couplet is located entirely in HoquiamHoquiam, Washington
Hoquiam is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington state, United States. The town borders the city of Aberdeen at Myrtle Street with Hoquiam to the west. The two cities share a common economic history in lumbering and exporting but Hoquiam has maintained its independent identity...
, Grays Harbor County
Grays Harbor County, Washington
Grays Harbor County is a county in the state of Washington, in the United States of America. As of 2010, the population was 72,797. The county seat is at Montesano, and its largest city is Aberdeen. The county is named after a large estuarine bay near its southwestern corner...
.
| Mile | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.00 | Western terminus | |
| 0.15 | Eastern terminus |