Interstate 705 Washington

Interstate 705 Washington
I-705 at Bridge of Glass

Northward view of Interstate 705 from the Bridge of Glass pedestrian overpass in Tacoma. Photo by Justin Cozart (03/27/05).

Overview

Interstate 705 is a short freeway spur connecting I-5 and Washington Route 7 with Downtown Tacoma. The WSDOT Interchange Viewer Diagram lists the route at 1.50 miles in length, with an official end at the 9th Street southbound entrance ramp across from where Schuster Parkway begins northbound. Interchanges are unnumbered, but there are markers for milepost 1.

SR 7 extends south from I-5/705 along a freeway to a partial interchange with E 38th Street. There were plans to extend the freeway south of E 38th Street, but such plans apparently lie dormant. The state route begins at U.S. 12 in Morton, weaving northward near Storm King Mountain before descending upon Spanaway, Parkland and ultimately Tacoma.

History

The first request for what would become Interstate 705 was submitted by the Washington State Department of Transportation to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) on October 12, 1976. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) tentatively assigned I-105 to the route subject to concurrence by AASHTO. The Tacoma Spur was eventually approved March 17, 1978, with a recommendation by the Washington State Transportation Commission to renumber it I-705. One reason included a numerical relationship I-705 would have with SR 7, which entered Tacoma from the south and terminated at the Pacific Avenue Interchange (I-5). The lack of conflict with SR 105 was another reason for the establishment of I-705, as no other route in the state had that number at that time. FAI spur related numbers of 305 and 505 were also assigned to existing Washington State Routes, so those numbers were not selected to avoid duplication.1

The north end of the freeway, from a point one block south of the Murry Morgan Bridge (11th Street) to the beginning of Schuster Parkway, was constructed by the city of Tacoma. The state eventually took over a portion of this route, with the northern section remaining under city of Tacoma maintenance.2

Interstate 705 opened to traffic in 1991.3 Establishment of Interstate was conditionally approved by the AASHTO on June 30, 1978.

Route Information

  • North End – Tacoma, WA

  • South End – Tacoma, WA

  • Mileage – 1.50

  • Cities – Tacoma

  • Junctions – I-5

Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

I-705 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

Location Vehicles per day
I-5 24,000
south of SR 509 74,000
south of Pacific Av 53,000
Schuster Parkway 40,000

Source: 2017 AADT – WSDOT Traffic Data Geoportal

I-705 north at Bridge of Glass - Tacoma, WA

I-705 north at the Chihuly Bridge of Glass. This a 500 foot long pedestrian overpass offers a connection between downtown Tacoma and the Museum of Glass and the Thea Foss Waterway was built as part of the Interstate 705 project. 08/29/06

Tacoma inset on the 1987 Washington Official Highway Map

Interstate 705 on the 1987 Washington Official Highway Map

1971 Gousha map of Tacoma, Washington

The eventual freeway for SR 7 completed south from Interstate 5 to S 38th Street in 1971. The portion shown under construction south to S 46th Street was not built.

 Photo Guides

North End – 9th Street / Schuster Parkway – Downtown Tacoma, Washington

I-705 North at Shuster Pkwy

I-705 north at 11th St/Murray Morgan Bridge in Tacoma, WA

I-705 closely parallels Thea Foss Waterway, which flows north into Commencement Bay. The freeway continues a short distance from the Murray Morgan Bridge at 11th Street to Schuster Parkway. 07/19/23

I-705 north ahead of Shuster Pkwy and Stadium Wy in Tacoma, WA

I-705 ends ahead of this set of overheads for Shuster Parkway and Stadium Way. Schuster Parkway extends north and then west along Commencement Bay. It eventually splits into Ruston Way (en route to Ruston and the SR 163 ferry to Vashon Island) and 30th Street west across Tacoma. Schuster Parkway is an expressway alignment with limited intersections. 07/19/23

I-705 north concludes with ramps to Schuster Pkwy and Stadium Wy

Traffic on I-705 north diverges into ramps for Schuster Parkway and Stadium Way. Stadium Way parallels Schuster Parkway to Division Avenue at the Stadium District. 07/20/23

Shuster Pkwy – South at I-705

Shuster Pkwy south meets I-705 at Pacific Ave in Tacoma, Washington

Schuster Parkway south shifts east onto the freeway leading south to Interstate 705 as Pacific Avenue separates toward Downtown Tacoma. 07/19/23

Shuster Parkway south at the freeway entrance for Interstate 705

A freeway entrance sign marks the transition of Shuster Parkway south, though I-705 does not officially begin for another 0.4 miles. The freeway initially partitions through a multiple deck structure, so that traffic can connect with Stadium Way. 07/19/23

I-705 south below Fireman's Park in Tacoma, Washington

Southbound Interstate 705 enters a short cut and cover tunnel segment after the flyover from Stadium Way. Fireman’s Park sits on top of the structure, providing additional green space and views for Tacoma residents and visitors. 07/19/23

I-705 south at 11th St/Murray Morgan Bridge in Tacoma, Washington

The 9th Street entrance ramp merges onto Shuster Parkway south, marking the start of Interstate 705. The freeway proceeds under the Murray Morgan Bridge (11th Street) along the east side of the Tacoma city center. 07/19/23

South End I-5 Washington 7 – Tacoma, Washington

I-705 South at I-5 SR 7

A viaduct leads I-705 south from SR 509 to I-5/SR 7 in Tacoma, WA

Interstate 705 advances south from the single point interchange with SR 509 (21st Street) to the exchange with Interstate 5. 07/19/23

I-705 south at I-5 south to Olympia, Washington

Southbound Interstate 705 concludes with two lane ramps for I-5 south to Olympia and Portland and I-5 north to Seattle and SR 7 south to Mount Rainier. 07/20/23

I-705 south drops below grade through the systems interchange with I-5

The roadway linking I-705 south with SR 7 winds through the multi level interchange with Interstate 5. 07/19/23

I-705 ends as traffic separates for I-5 north and SR 7 south in Tacoma, WA

Traffic splits for I-5 north and SR 7 south. SR 7 travels from Tacoma to Mount Rainier while I-5 leads north through Seattle to Vancouver, British Columbia. 07/20/23

SR 7 North at I-5 I-705

SR 7 loops onto a freeway north from S 38th St to I-5/705 in Tacoma, WA

The freeway along SR 7 northbound commences from a partially built parclo interchange with E 38th Street, one half mile south of I-5/705. 07/19/23

SR 7 north a quarter mile from I-5/705 in Tacoma, Washington

Weaving through a valley from E 38th Street, SR 7 runs 0.82 miles north to the systems interchange with I-5 and I-705 with four lanes. 07/19/23

SR 7 north passes under E 34th St at the exit for I-5 north in Tacoma, WA

A lane drop occurs on SR 7 north for the ramp to northbound Interstate 5 for Seattle. The mainline advances with two lanes to connect with I-5 south and I-705 north to the Tacoma city center. 07/19/23

SR 7 north ends at I-5 where Interstate 705 begins in Tacoma, WA

State Route 7 north ends and I-705 begins as the left exit for Interstate 5 south to Olympia and Portland, Oregan departs. 07/19/23

I-5 North at I-705 SR 7

I-5 north ahead of SR 18 to Gig Harbor, Washington

Completed in November 2018, the I-5 – M Street to Portland Avenue – HOV project widened I-5 through Tacoma to four general purpose lanes and one HOV-lane in each direction.<sup>4</sup> 07/20/23

I-5 north a half mile from the c/d roadway (Exit 133) to I-705/SR 7

Interstate 5 north a half mile ahead of the collector distributor roadway (Exit 133) for I-705 north to the Tacoma city center and SR 7 south. 07/20/23

S 38th St spans I-5 north ahead of the c/d roadway for I-705 in Tacoma, WA

The collector distributor roadway at Exit 133 separates for I-705/SR 7 from I-5 northbound within the three-wye interchange (Exit 132) at SR 16. 07/20/23

Curving into the three-wye interchange with SR 16, Exit 133 leaves I-5 north

An HOV exit joins I-5 north with SR 16 north to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge across from the c/d roadway (Exit 133) for I-705/SR 7. 07/20/23

An HOV exit departs I-5 north for SR 16 across from Exit 133 to I-705

The c/d roadway at Exit 133 combines with traffic from SR 16 east a half mile ahead of the four level interchange with I-705/SR 7. 07/20/23

The c/d roadway for Exit 133 crosses S M Street a third of a mile from I-705

Ramps from SR 16 south and S 38th Street combine along the c/d roadway (Exit 133) for Interstate 705 north and SR 7 south. 07/20/23

Traffic on the c/d roadway at Exit 133 separates for I-705/SR 7 and I-5 north

The c/d roadway at Exit 133 partitions with two lanes rejoining I-5 north to Seattle and two departing for I-705/SR 7. 07/20/23

I-5 north at SR 7 to south Tacoma, Parkland and Spanaway, Washington

SR 7 commences south from I-705 along a 0.82 mile freeway spur to S 38th Street. SR 7 shifts west onto Pacific Avenue en route to Parkland. 07/20/23

I-705 north from I-5 north at E 26th St in Tacoma, Washington

The ramp to I-705 north from I-5 north combines with traffic from SR 7 ahead of a separate exit to E 26th Street and the Tacoma Dome. 07/20/23

I-5 South at I-705 SR 7

I-5 south at Portland Ave, 0.75 miles from I-705/SR 7 in Tacoma, WA

I-5 spans Portland Avenue 0.75 miles ahead of Exit 133 for I-705 north to the Tacoma city center and SR 7 south to S 38th Street. 07/19/23

I-5 south passes by the Tacoma Dome leading to I-705/SR 7 at Exit 133

Interstate 5 shifts southward adjacent to Wiley Avenue and the Tacoma Dome ahead of Exit 133 with I-705 / SR 7. 07/19/23

Exit 133 departs I-5 south for I-705 north and SR 7 south in Tacoma, WA

Two lanes separate from I-5 southbound at Exit 133 for I-705 north to the Tacoma city center and the 0.82 mile long freeway spur along SR 7 south to E 38th Street and Pacific Avenue. 07/19/23

Exit 133 for I-705 north also links with E 26th St to the Tacoma Dome

The systems interchange (Exit 133) joining I-5, I-705 and SR 7 includes connections with E 26th Street to the Tacoma Dome. 07/19/23

I-705 South End Throwback

I-5 South at I-705 SR 7

I-5 south a half mile ahead of I-705/SR 7 at Tacoma, WA in 2006

The right lane of I-5 south dropped at Exit 133 for I-705 north and SR 7 south. 08/29/06

I-5 south ahead of I-705/SR 7 in 2006

I-5 south ahead of I-705/SR 7 prior to the addition of an HOV lane south to SR 16. 08/29/06

McKinley Wy spans I-5 south at Exit 133 for I-705/SR 7 in Tacoma, WA

Removed sign bridge at Exit 133. A small arrow per lane sign was added here for I-705 north and SR 7 south. 08/29/06

Replaced signs for I-705 and E 26th Street in Tacoma, WA

Replaced overheads for I-705 north and the exit to E 26th Street. 08/29/06

I-705 South End Throwback

I-5 North at I-705 SR 7

I-5 north one mile ahead of Exit 133 during road work in 2015.

Construction in 2006 expanded I-5 leading north into Tacoma. Further work on this stretch of freeway commenced in August 2014. 06/24/15

I-5 north at I-705/SR 7 in Tacoma, Washington in 2015

I-5 north at Exit 133 for I-705 north / SR 7 south during the I-5 – M Street to Portland Avenue – HOV project. 06/24/15

Sources:

  1. AASHTO application for Establishment of I-705, dated May 9, 1978, retrieved from AASHTO Route Numbering Archive.
  2. “WA I-705.” online posting by ErmineNotyours, AARoads Forum, June 4, 2018.
  3. Interstate 705 (Washington). AARoads Wiki.
  4. I-5 – M Street to Portland Avenue – HOV. https://wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/MStToPortland/default.htm Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) project web page.

Page updated February 1, 2024.