Washington State Route 508 Explained

State:WA
Type:SR
Route:508
Section:675
Map:Washington State Route 508.svg
Map Notes:SR 508 is highlighted in red.
Length Mi:32.84
Length Round:2
Length Ref:[1]
Established:1964[2]
Direction A:West
Terminus A: in Napavine
Direction B:East
Terminus B: in Morton
Counties:Lewis
Spur Type:I
Spur Of:5
Previous Type:SR
Previous Route:507
Next Type:SR
Next Route:509

State Route 508 (SR 508) is a 32.842NaN2 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.

Route description

SR 508 begins at a diamond interchange with (I-5) concurrent with (US 12) within Napavine city limits.[3] From the interchange, the highway leaves Napavine and travels southeast through an intersection with the Jackson Highway, formerly,[4] to bridge and parallel the South Fork of the Newaukum River, passing Onalaska and Alpha before unparalleling the river and continuing 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.[5] [6] 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;[7] the SR 7 intersection was the busiest section in 1970, with an estimated daily average of 3,200 motorists.[8]

History

A road paralleling the current route of SR 508 first appeared on a map in 1916, extending from Napavine to Cinebar.[9] By 1937, the road was extended east to Morton and signed as (SSH 5K) in the same year.[10] [11] SSH 5K ran from a branch of (PSH 5) in Morton west to east of Napavine.[11] [12] In 1964, a highway renumbering created SR 508 to replace SSH 5K.[2] [13] [14] Between 1968 and 2008, SR 508 between I-5 and Onalaska used Forest Road and the Jackson Highway to get to Onalaska,[14] but the route was later realigned.[5]

A large flood event in December 1977, due to heavy rainfall and snow melt, severely impacted eastern Lewis County. A log jam led to the destruction of the route's 150foot-tall Bear Canyon Bridge when the span's sole support tower was broken, fully collapsing the overpass. Located approximately west of Morton, the bridge was erected in the late 1890s and rebuilt twice in 1917 and 1934. Estimated to cost $2 million, the construction of the replacement bridge was not undertaken until 1982.[15] [16]

Additional floods and severe weather caused several further closures and washouts in the 21st century. In early November 2006, heavy rainfall at Bear Canyon[17] resulted in erosion of a cliff on the highway that caused portions of the roadway to fall into the Tilton River.[18] Construction of the repairs began April 23, 2007 and a limited opening happened on June 25.[19] [20] [21] On July 27, the new road was opened,[22] but during heavy snowfall between December 19 and 22, 2008 and the resulting floods in early January 2009, the area was washed out.[23] On January 29, 2009, SR 508 was reopened through Bear Canyon.[24] 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.[25] [26] The bridge, like Bear Canyon, was damaged during floods in January 2009 and reopened on June 11.[27]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: State Highway Log: Planning Report, SR 2 to SR 971 . . 2008 . July 18, 2009.
  2. Web site: 1970. RCW 47.17.675: State route No. 508. Washington State Legislature. July 18, 2009.
  3. Web site: Washington State Department of Transportation . SR 5 – Exit 71; Junction SR 508 / Napavine Road West . September 9, 2006 . July 18, 2009.
  4. . . Hoquiam, 1951 . 1951 . 1:250,000 . July 18, 2009.
  5. Washington State Department of Transportation . 2008 . 2008–09 . Washington State Highways, 2008–2009 . F3 . United States Geological Survey . 1:842,000 . July 18, 2009.
  6. Web site: SR 7; Junction SR 508 . Washington State Department of Transportation . September 17, 2004 . July 18, 2009.
  7. Web site: 2007 Annual Traffic Report . Washington State Department of Transportation . 2007 . July 18, 2009.
  8. Web site: Annual Traffic Report, 1970 . . Washington State Department of Transportation . 1970 . 189–190 . July 18, 2009.
  9. . United States Geological Survey . Chehalis, 1916 . 1:125,000 . Washington 1:125,000 topographic quadrangles . 1916 . July 18, 2009.
  10. Washington State University . United States Geological Survey . Eatonville, 1937 . 1:125,000 . Washington 1:125,000 topographic quadrangles . 1937 . July 18, 2009.
  11. Book: Washington State Legislature . Session Laws of the State of Washington . July 18, 2009 . 1937 . March 18, 1937 . Washington State Legislature . . 1004 . Chapter 207: Classification of Public Highways . (j) Secondary State Highway No. 5K; beginning at Morton on Primary State Highway No. 5, thence in a westerly direction by the most feasible route by way of Onalaska to a junction with Primary State Highway No. 1 south of Chehalis..
  12. University of Texas at Austin . United States Geological Survey . Hoquiam, 1958 . 1958 . 1:250,000 . July 18, 2009.
  13. Web site: Identification of State Highways . C. G. Prahl . Washington State Highway Commission, Department of Highways . December 1, 1965 . July 18, 2009.
  14. University of Texas at Austin . United States Geological Survey . Hoquiam, 1968 . 1968 . 1:250,000 . July 18, 2009.
  15. News: Jones . Pat . The ups and downs of Bear Canyon Bridge . May 23, 2024 . . November 18, 2006.
  16. News: County's flood toll may cost $6 million dollars . May 23, 2024 . The Daily Chronicle (Centralia, Washington) . December 5, 1977 . 1.
  17. SR 508 – Bear Canyon Emergency Repairs . Washington State Department of Transportation . 2007 . Tele Atlas . July 18, 2009.
  18. Web site: SR 508 – Bear Canyon Emergency Repairs – Complete July 2007 . Washington State Department of Transportation . 2007 . July 18, 2009.
  19. Design Complete, Repairs to SR 508 at Bear Canyon Begin this Spring . Washington State Department of Transportation . March 22, 2007 . July 18, 2009.
  20. Contractor Selected, Emergency Repairs to SR 508 at Bear Canyon begin April 23 . Washington State Department of Transportation . April 12, 2007 . July 18, 2009.
  21. Limited Opening of SR 508 at Bear Canyon Begins June 25 . Washington State Department of Transportation . June 18, 2007 . July 18, 2009.
  22. SR 508 at Bear Canyon Reopens Today, Emergency Repairs Complete . Washington State Department of Transportation . July 27, 2007 . July 18, 2009.
  23. Storm recovery continues in Southwest Washington . Washington State Department of Transportation . January 15, 2009 . July 18, 2009.
  24. WSDOT to reopen SR 508 at Bear Canyon late today . Washington State Department of Transportation . January 29, 2009 . July 18, 2009.
  25. SR 508 Tilton River Bridge restricted to single-lane traffic, no overweight loads . Washington State Department of Transportation . April 9, 2009 . July 18, 2009.
  26. Web site: Washington State Department of Transportation . WSDOT Structurally Deficient Bridges . 2008 . 3 . July 18, 2009.
  27. Repair work begins on SR 508 Tilton River Bridge, June 11 . Washington State Department of Transportation . June 5, 2009 . July 18, 2009.

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