Interstate 705 Washington

Interstate 705 Washington
Tacoma, WA ↔ 9th Street / Schuster Parkway – Downtown Tacoma, WA•1.50 miles

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.

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

Mileage by State

Washington1.50 mi

Data Sources

December 31, 2025 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

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

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.
Tacoma inset on the 1987 Washington Official Highway Map
Interstate 705 on the 1987 Washington Official Highway Map

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

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

Interstate 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 at 11th St/Murray Morgan Bridge in Tacoma, WA I-705 north ahead of Shuster Pkwy and Stadium Wy in Tacoma, WA I-705 north concludes with ramps to Schuster Pkwy and Stadium Wy

Shuster Pkwy – South at Interstate 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 Pkwy south meets I-705 at Pacific Ave in Tacoma, Washington Shuster Parkway south at the freeway entrance for Interstate 705 I-705 south below Fireman's Park in Tacoma, Washington I-705 south at 11th St/Murray Morgan Bridge in Tacoma, Washington

South End Interstate 5 Washington State Route 7 ‐ Tacoma, WA

Interstate 705 South at Interstate 5 Washington State Route 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

A viaduct leads I-705 south from SR 509 to I-5/SR 7 in Tacoma, WA I-705 south at I-5 south to Olympia, Washington I-705 south drops below grade through the systems interchange with I-5 I-705 ends as traffic separates for I-5 north and SR 7 south in Tacoma, WA

Washington State Route 7 North at Interstate 5 Interstate 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 loops onto a freeway north from S 38th St to I-5/705 in Tacoma, WA SR 7 north a quarter mile from I-5/705 in Tacoma, Washington SR 7 north passes under E 34th St at the exit for I-5 north in Tacoma, WA SR 7 north ends at I-5 where Interstate 705 begins in Tacoma, WA

Interstate 5 North at Interstate 705 Washington State Route 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.4 07/20/23

I-5 north ahead of SR 18 to Gig Harbor, Washington I-5 north a half mile from the c/d roadway (Exit 133) to I-705/SR 7 S 38th St spans I-5 north ahead of the c/d roadway for I-705 in Tacoma, WA Curving into the three-wye interchange with SR 16, Exit 133 leaves I-5 north An HOV exit departs I-5 north for SR 16 across from Exit 133 to I-705 The c/d roadway for Exit 133 crosses S M Street a third of a mile from I-705 Traffic on the c/d roadway at Exit 133 separates for I-705/SR 7 and I-5 north I-5 north at SR 7 to south Tacoma, Parkland and Spanaway, Washington I-705 north from I-5 north at E 26th St in Tacoma, Washington

Interstate 5 South at Interstate 705 Washington State Route 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 at Portland Ave, 0.75 miles from I-705/SR 7 in Tacoma, WA I-5 south passes by the Tacoma Dome leading to I-705/SR 7 at Exit 133 Exit 133 departs I-5 south for I-705 north and SR 7 south in Tacoma, WA Exit 133 for I-705 north also links with E 26th St to the Tacoma Dome

South End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

Interstate 5 North at Interstate 705 Washington State Route 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 a half mile ahead of I-705/SR 7 at Tacoma, WA in 2006 I-5 south ahead of I-705/SR 7 in 2006 McKinley Wy spans I-5 south at Exit 133 for I-705/SR 7 in Tacoma, WA Replaced signs for I-705 and E 26th Street in Tacoma, WA

Interstate 5 South at Interstate 705 Washington State Route 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 one mile ahead of Exit 133 during road work in 2015. I-5 north at I-705/SR 7 - 2015

References

  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. Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT). I-5 – M Street to Portland Avenue – HOV. Retrieved from https://wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/MStToPortland/default.htm
Updated February 1, 2024