Washington State Route 704

State Route 704 (known as SR 704 or the Cross-Base Highway) is a 0.63-mile (1.01 km) long state highway located entirely in Pierce County, Washington. The current route starts at Spanaway Loop Road in Spanaway and ends at the intersection of SR 7 and 176th Street. The highway is scheduled to be 6 mi (9.7 km) long, connecting SR 7 to Interstate 5 in the west. The project, largely unfunded, is estimated to cost $480 million.

State Route 704
Route information
Auxiliary route of SR 7
Defined by RCW 47.17.818
Maintained by WSDOT
Length	0.63 mi[1] (1.01 km)
Major junctions
West end	Spanaway Loop Road near Spanaway
East end	SR 7 near Spanaway
Highway system
State highways in Washington Interstate US State Scenic Former PSH 1964 renumbering Former ← SR 702 I-705 →

Route description

The current highway begins at the intersection of 176th Street and Spanaway Loop Road, paralleling the border of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, south of SR 704, as a multiple lane highway. The current alignment parallels the former 176th Street, which has been turned into a cul-de-sac at the west end and truncated at the east before the intersection and terminus of the current alignment at SR 7.[2]

History

Environmental lawsuit

In July 2010,[3] a coalition[4] of local businesses, conservation organizations, and equestrian clubs filed a lawsuit against the Federal Highway Administration, WSDOT, and Pierce County[3] to prevent construction of the proposed highway. Because the project has no funding and thus no construction schedule, the parties agreed to a stay of proceedings on October 15.[3]

The coalition contended that the agencies failed to follow the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and failed to adequately consider reasonable alternatives.[5] The coalition reports that the proposed highway would bisect the largest remnant oak woodland-prairie left in the Puget Sound area.[4] The US Fish and Wildlife Service describes the area as "possibly the rarest habitat in North America,"[5] home to at least 29 species of federal and/or state threatened, endangered, candidate, and sensitive plant and animal species of concern, 18 of which are in the immediate vicinity of the proposed highway.[4]

Drawing comparisons with Mt. Rainier National Park and Nisqually National Wildlife Area, Pierce County's Biodiversity Network Assessment describes the area as "the most biologically and ecologically rich area remaining in the lower elevations of Pierce County." The County predicts that these diverse habitats support 20 state or federally listed species, 24 Priority Habitat and Species, and 10 at-risk species, and dozens of other plants and animals.[6]

The project's Environmental Impact Statement states,

None of the areas affected by the project are quality prairie habitat; most of the grasslands are non-native. The alignment was purposely placed to avoid wetlands. The Douglas-fir forest habitat is all second-growth; most is in even-aged stands with little structural diversity and is considered to be invasive to oak woodland and prairie habitats. The grassland habitats with some native prairie species intersected by the proposed alignment occur at two locations. The first is a mowed field with few native plants west of Lake Mondress that is also heavily used as a practice arena by equestrian enthusiasts. The second location is southeast of Lake Mondress, where the alignment skirts the northern edge of a prairie habitat mostly invaded by Scot's broom. The intersection point is at a disturbed railway junction. Both locations support prairie habitat. The remaining areas are disturbed fields dominated by weedy Scot's broom. In summary, the project does not affect grasslands or prairie of the type referred to in this comment.[7]

The EIS also states that "By 2025, most of the freeway and arterial street systems will operate at [Level of Service] F conditions with volume/capacity (V/C) ratios well above 1.0." This means very heavy congestion and gridlock during most of the day.[8]

Furthermore, the proposed highway will increase climate impacts by increasing driving distance. The EIS states that "Overall, people would travel a little farther to use the new Cross-Base Highway project to avoid other congested highways and arterials; this would increase miles driven."[9]

A contrary view was expressed by Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg, who believes that it would be "environmentally irresponsible not to build that highway,"[10] because SR 704 will lessen development in the Puyallup Valley farmlands.

Future

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) plans to extend the highway to be 6 miles (9.7 km) long, originating at Interstate 5 in the Tillicum neighborhood of Lakewood, Washington. A four-lane, divided highway with four intersections over its entire length,[11] SR 704 may improve access to and between the military installations by providing an exclusive roadway between Fort Lewis and McChord AFB. It could also connect the developing industrial areas of DuPont and Frederickson as well as provide an east–west alternate thoroughfare to overcrowded State Route 512.

When voters rejected a November 2007 ballot measure which would fund the construction, most of the project was put on hold.[12] However, on June 20, 2008, the WSDOT awarded a $7.35 million contract to Ceccanti Inc. for widening of the eastern 0.7 miles (1.1 km) of the route between Spanaway Loop Road and State Route 7.[12][13] Groundbreaking was July 30, 2008.[14] Assistant Project Engineer John Ho says that the project was scheduled to be completed by 2017 at the earliest.[15] As of 2018, the project remains on hold until further action is taken by the state legislature.[16]

The WSDOT puts the 2007 price tag for the highway at $480 million. However, only $43 million has been funded, requiring at least $437 million.[14] Of this gap, only $50 million had been expected to be funded by a failed 2007 ballot initiative which in the end did not include the project.[17]

These figures are expected to increase considerably due to rising costs of construction materials and fuel.

Major intersections

The entire route is in Pierce County.

Location	mi[1]	km	Destinations	Notes
​	0.00	0.00	Spanaway Loop Road	At-grade intersection
​	0.60– 0.63	0.97– 1.01	SR 7 – Spanaway, Elk Plain	At-grade intersection
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

1. "State Highway Log Planning Report 2009 SR 2 to SR 971" (PDF). Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). p. 1717. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
2. Google (October 30, 2010). "SR 704" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
3. Hill, Christian (October 22, 2010). "Judge agrees to halt Lewis-McChord cross-base highway suit". The News Tribune. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
4. "Cross Base Highway Coalition".
5. Notice of Intent Letter, November 28, 2006
6. "Pierce County Biodiversity Network Assessment" (PDF). August 2004. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
7. Final Environmental Impact Statement, Cross-Base Highway Project, Chapter 6 - Comments and Responses, §6.4, at pg. 6-5
8. Cross-Base Highway SDEIS, Table 3.1-7
9. Cross-Base Highway FEIS, p. 4-201
10. "Cross-base highway faces suit". The News Tribune. November 20, 2006.
11. "Quarterly Project Report Update for Quarter Ending March 2006".
12. George, Hunter (June 30, 2008). "Cross-base highway head-scratcher explained". The (Tacoma) News Tribune. Retrieved August 18, 2008.
13. "Cross Base Corridor Information". Pierce County Public Works and Utilities. Retrieved August 18, 2008.
14. "WSDOT - SR 704 - Cross-Base Highway Project".
15. "Cross Base Highway Discussed". The Suburban Times. March 20, 2007. Archived from the original on March 20, 2008.
16. "SR 704 - Cross Base Highway Project". WSDOT. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
17. Wickert, David; "Base highway might get ax"; The News Tribune; May 11, 2007