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@wsdot What does a new stretch of highway have to do with restoring wetlands? More than you might think! The first 2 miles of the new SR 167 Expressway are officially open! The new section creates a more direct connection for freight between I-5 in Fife and the Port of Tacoma, with another 4 miles of new highway still to come. But the work to extend SR 167 goes well beyond the new roadway. Decades ago, wetlands around the I-5 Fife curve were converted for agricultural and industrial use. Hylebos Creek was rerouted into ditches, and the area lost much of its natural ability to hold water during heavy rain. That contributed to chronic flooding on I-5 and took a toll on habitat for fish and wildlife. So as part of the SR 167 project, we’re helping bring it back. More than 165 acres of wetlands and streams have been restored on both sides of I-5. Crews built new channels for Hylebos Creek and the Surprise Lake tributary and planted more than 300,000 native trees and shrubs. The restored area can act as a floodplain again, giving stormwater somewhere to go while creating better habitat for wildlife, including Chinook and coho salmon. And we’ve already seen those restored wetlands put to work. When historic flooding hit the region in December 2025, the wetlands helped absorb the extra water, keeping it off the roadway and I-5 at the Fife curve open. There’s a lot to celebrate with 2 new miles of SR 167 now open. But some of our favorite progress is happening right alongside it. Because sometimes moving forward means bringing a little of the past back with us.
