Washington State Route 508
Encyclopedia
State Route 508 is a 32.84 miles (52.85 km) long state highway
located in Lewis County
within the U.S. state
of Washington, extending from an interchange with (I-5) concurrent
with (US 12) in Napavine
to in Morton
. By 1916, a road between Napavine and Cinebar
was constructed on the current route of SR 508 and was signed in 1937 as (SSH 5K) after being extended to Morton. SSH 5K became SR 508 in 1968 and since then, a segment in Bear Canyon has been reconstructed twice between 2007 and 2009 and a bridge over the Tilton River
was reconstructed in 2009.
State Route 508 (SR 508) begins at a diamond interchange
with (I-5) concurrent
with (US 12) within Napavine
city limits
. From the interchange, the highway leaves Napavine and travels southeast through an intersection with the Jackson Highway, formerly , to bridge and parallel the South Fork of the Newaukum River
, passing Onalaska
and Alpha
before unparalleling the river and cotninuing east to Cinebar
. East of Cinebar, the roadway starts to parallel the Tilton River
through Bear Canyon to Morton
, where the road becomes Main Avenue and ends at , named Second Street. An estimated daily average of 5,000 motorists used the I-5 / US 12 / SR 508 interchange in 2007, making it the busiest section of the highway; the SR 7 intersection was the busiest section in 1970, with an estimated daily average of 3,200 motorists.
to Cinebar
. By 1937, the road was extended east to Morton
and signed as (SSH 5K) in the same year. SSH 5K ran from a branch of (PSH 5) in Morton west to east of Napavine. In 1964, a highway renumbering created SR 508 to replace SSH 5K. Between 1968 and 2008, SR 508 between the (I-5) concurrent
with (US 12) interchange and Onalaska
used Forest Road and the Jackson Highway to get to Onalaska, but the route was later realigned. In early November 2006, heavy rainfall at Bear Canyon, located east of Cinebar
, resulted in erosion of a cliff on the highway that caused portions of the roadway to fall into the Tilton River
. Construction of the repairs began 23 April 2007 and a limited opening happened on 25 June. On 27 July, the new road was opened, but during heavy snowfall between 19 December and 22 December 2008 and the resulting floods in early January 2009, the area was washed out. On 29 January 2009, SR 508 was reopened through Bear Canyon. A bridge over the Tilton River west of Milton that was built in 1947 and three other bridges on the highway were classified as structurally deficient in 2008 and the Tilton River Bridge was partially closed in April 2009. The bridge, like Bear Canyon, was damaged during floods in January 2009 and reopened on 11 June.
.
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...
located in Lewis County
Lewis County, Washington
Lewis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of 2010, the population was 75,455. The county seat is at Chehalis, and its largest city is Centralia....
within 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, extending from an interchange with (I-5) concurrent
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 (US 12) in Napavine
Napavine, Washington
Napavine is a city in Lewis County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,766 at the 2010 census.-History:Napavine was officially incorporated as a town on November 21, 1913. Settlers began arriving in the Cowlitz area in the early 1850s...
to in Morton
Morton, Washington
Morton is a city in Lewis County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,126 at the 2010 census.-History:Morton was first settled in 1871 by James Fletcher. It was later named after Benjamin Harrison's Vice President, Levi P. Morton, in 1889. Morton was officially incorporated on January...
. By 1916, a road between Napavine and Cinebar
Cinebar, Washington
Cinebar is an unincorporated community in Washington State between State Highway 508 and State Highway 12. Named for the cinnabar present in the mountains to the northeast, Cinebar is a rural area with a post office and fire station on State Highway 508...
was constructed on the current route of SR 508 and was signed in 1937 as (SSH 5K) after being extended to Morton. SSH 5K became SR 508 in 1968 and since then, a segment in Bear Canyon has been reconstructed twice between 2007 and 2009 and a bridge over the Tilton River
Tilton River
The Tilton River is a tributary of the Cowlitz River, in the U.S. state of Washington. Named for territorial surveyor James Tilton, its entire course is contained in Lewis County, Washington.-Course:...
was reconstructed in 2009.
Route description
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 (I-5) concurrent
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 (US 12) within Napavine
Napavine, Washington
Napavine is a city in Lewis County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,766 at the 2010 census.-History:Napavine was officially incorporated as a town on November 21, 1913. Settlers began arriving in the Cowlitz area in the early 1850s...
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...
. From the interchange, the highway leaves Napavine and travels southeast through an intersection with the Jackson Highway, formerly , to bridge and parallel the South Fork of the Newaukum River
Newaukum River
The Newaukum River is a tributary of the Chehalis River in the U.S. state of Washington. It has three main branches, the North Fork, South Fork, and Middle Fork Newaukum Rivers...
, passing Onalaska
Onalaska, Washington
-Use of the name Onalaska in the United States:The name for the community comes from the poem, "The Pleasures of Hope" by Scottish poet Thomas Campbell...
and Alpha
Alpha, Washington
Alpha is an unincorporated community located in Lewis County, Washington about 3.5 miles away from Cinebar. Due to its rural setting with little settlement concentration, it did not meet qualifications as a Census Designated Place, a program used by the U.S. Census Bureau for unincorporated...
before unparalleling the river and cotninuing east to Cinebar
Cinebar, Washington
Cinebar is an unincorporated community in Washington State between State Highway 508 and State Highway 12. Named for the cinnabar present in the mountains to the northeast, Cinebar is a rural area with a post office and fire station on State Highway 508...
. East of Cinebar, the roadway starts to parallel the Tilton River
Tilton River
The Tilton River is a tributary of the Cowlitz River, in the U.S. state of Washington. Named for territorial surveyor James Tilton, its entire course is contained in Lewis County, Washington.-Course:...
through Bear Canyon to Morton
Morton, Washington
Morton is a city in Lewis County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,126 at the 2010 census.-History:Morton was first settled in 1871 by James Fletcher. It was later named after Benjamin Harrison's Vice President, Levi P. Morton, in 1889. Morton was officially incorporated on January...
, where the road becomes Main Avenue and ends at , named Second Street. An estimated daily average of 5,000 motorists used the I-5 / US 12 / SR 508 interchange in 2007, making it the busiest section of the highway; the SR 7 intersection was the busiest section in 1970, with an estimated daily average of 3,200 motorists.
History
A road paralleling the current route of SR 508 first appeared on a map in 1916, extending from NapavineNapavine, Washington
Napavine is a city in Lewis County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,766 at the 2010 census.-History:Napavine was officially incorporated as a town on November 21, 1913. Settlers began arriving in the Cowlitz area in the early 1850s...
to Cinebar
Cinebar, Washington
Cinebar is an unincorporated community in Washington State between State Highway 508 and State Highway 12. Named for the cinnabar present in the mountains to the northeast, Cinebar is a rural area with a post office and fire station on State Highway 508...
. By 1937, the road was extended east to Morton
Morton, Washington
Morton is a city in Lewis County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,126 at the 2010 census.-History:Morton was first settled in 1871 by James Fletcher. It was later named after Benjamin Harrison's Vice President, Levi P. Morton, in 1889. Morton was officially incorporated on January...
and signed as (SSH 5K) in the same year. SSH 5K ran from a branch of (PSH 5) in Morton west to east of Napavine. In 1964, a highway renumbering created SR 508 to replace SSH 5K. Between 1968 and 2008, SR 508 between the (I-5) concurrent
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 (US 12) interchange and Onalaska
Onalaska, Washington
-Use of the name Onalaska in the United States:The name for the community comes from the poem, "The Pleasures of Hope" by Scottish poet Thomas Campbell...
used Forest Road and the Jackson Highway to get to Onalaska, but the route was later realigned. In early November 2006, heavy rainfall at Bear Canyon, located east of Cinebar
Cinebar, Washington
Cinebar is an unincorporated community in Washington State between State Highway 508 and State Highway 12. Named for the cinnabar present in the mountains to the northeast, Cinebar is a rural area with a post office and fire station on State Highway 508...
, resulted in erosion of a cliff on the highway that caused portions of the roadway to fall into the Tilton River
Tilton River
The Tilton River is a tributary of the Cowlitz River, in the U.S. state of Washington. Named for territorial surveyor James Tilton, its entire course is contained in Lewis County, Washington.-Course:...
. Construction of the repairs began 23 April 2007 and a limited opening happened on 25 June. On 27 July, the new road was opened, but during heavy snowfall between 19 December and 22 December 2008 and the resulting floods in early January 2009, the area was washed out. On 29 January 2009, SR 508 was reopened through Bear Canyon. A bridge over the Tilton River west of Milton that was built in 1947 and three other bridges on the highway were classified as structurally deficient in 2008 and the Tilton River Bridge was partially closed in April 2009. The bridge, like Bear Canyon, was damaged during floods in January 2009 and reopened on 11 June.
Major intersections
The highway is located entirely in Lewis CountyLewis County, Washington
Lewis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of 2010, the population was 75,455. The county seat is at Chehalis, and its largest city is Centralia....
.
| Location | Mile | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Napavine Napavine, Washington Napavine is a city in Lewis County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,766 at the 2010 census.-History:Napavine was officially incorporated as a town on November 21, 1913. Settlers began arriving in the Cowlitz area in the early 1850s... |
0.00 | Western terminus; Interchange; continues west as Napavine Road | |
| 2.44 | Jackson Highway – Toledo Toledo, Washington Toledo is a city in Lewis County, Washington, United States. The population was 725 at the 2010 census.-History:Toledo was officially incorporated on October 10, 1892. Toledo was named by Celeste Rochon after a pioneer side wheel paddle steamer operated by Captain Oren Kellogg of the Kellogg... , Chehalis Chehalis, Washington Chehalis is a city in Lewis County, Washington, United States. The population was 7,259 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Lewis County.-History:... |
Former | |
| Morton Morton, Washington Morton is a city in Lewis County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,126 at the 2010 census.-History:Morton was first settled in 1871 by James Fletcher. It was later named after Benjamin Harrison's Vice President, Levi P. Morton, in 1889. Morton was officially incorporated on January... |
32.84 | Eastern terminus; continues east as Main Avenue |