Washington State Highways

Friday, December 20, 2024

Washington State Route 823

On Sunday, December 15, 2024, we drove Washington State Route 823 across the Selah Valley.

A state highway to be known as state route number 823 is established as follows:
Beginning at the junction of state route number 82 in the vicinity of Selah northerly by way of Selah and easterly to a junction with state route number 821 in the vicinity of the firing center interchange.
Before award of any construction contract for improvements to state route number 823 under either program A or program C, the department of transportation shall secure a portion of the construction cost from the city of Selah or Yakima county, or both.

With quesa birria in our bellies, we hit the road. At the north end of Yakima, Highway 823 begins in this complex interchange with US 12 and I-82.

Highway 823 heads northwest between the two directions of I-82. We cross the Naches River. We cross the Yakima River. There's another junction with I-82, although it's only an onramp in this direction.

We depart the interstate and cross the Yakima River again. Highway 823 becomes 1st Street in Selah, the main drag through town. But wait! Don't miss the turn! (Don't be like me.) Before you get to the middle of town, the highway is shunted a block to the east. We wouldn't want to take Wenas Road over the mountains to Ellensburg, would we? Not today, at any rate. As we leave the snowy city, we must take another right turn to stay on the highway. We wouldn't want to take Wenas Road over the mountains to Ellensburg, would we? Not today, at any rate. (Yes, the two roads join together after a dozen miles.) Cattle farms in the snow. Cross the Yakima River a third time. And here we are at the end of Highway 823 at this junction with SR 821. So familiar.

Selah's a nice little town, but the ridges don't leave it much sunlight in December.

Thursday, December 19, 2024

Washington State Route 821

On Sunday, December 15, 2024, we drove Washington State Route 821, winding up the Yakima Canyon.

State route No. 821:

A state highway to be known as state route number 821 is established as follows:
Beginning at a junction with state route number 82 in the vicinity north of Yakima, thence northerly to a junction with state route number 82 south of Ellensburg.

Highway 821 begins at this interchange with I-82 at the north end of the Selah Valley.

Just around the corner, we reach the junction with SR 823.

Highway 821 then proceeds to join the old route for US 97, which used to go through the Yakima Canyon before the interstate was built over the ridges. We drive through apple orchards that still have fruit but no leaves, then drop down to the Yakima River and enter the snow-dusted canyon. This is certainly one of the most scenic highways in all of Washington. Watch out for fallen rocks. The canyon curves like a river meandering across a flat plain, which is exactly what it is. The river was here long before the mountains rose up. After every earthquake when the ridges formed, the river carved the rock back down to level. So now we drive this twisty loopy canyon, in and out of the sun and shade, with towering cliffs and the river flowing wide and slow. Fishermen are enjoying the day. Suddenly the canyon opens into the Kittitas Valley. Highway 821 takes the first available right turn off the old US 97 and we are at the end of the route, at this interchange with I-82.

Sometimes it's good to take the slow road and this is a good slow road.

Friday, November 8, 2024

Washington State Route 730

On Monday, November 4, 2024, we drove Washington State Route 730 (aka US Route 730). It was on the way home...

State route No. 730:

A state highway to be known as state route number 730 is established as follows:
Beginning at the Washington-Oregon boundary line, thence northeasterly to a junction with state route number 12 south of Wallula.

On the south bank of the mighty Columbia River, US 730 enters Washington.

With a tailwind, we drive beneath the towering cliffs carved by ice-age floods. Under one stretch, there's a giant fence with a stout net to catch falling rocks. Not most of the cliffs, though. After Port Kelley and the Walla Walla Yacht Club, US 730 turns north and starts climbing. This is the halfway point of the Washington portion.

The Columbia River (Lake Wallula here) spreads out before us as we pass through Wallula Gap. Twin Sisters Rock marks the narrowest portion of the river. Whitecapped waves push upstream. And then we're through the gap and US 730 turns east again. Very shortly, we reach the delta junction with US 12. Be very sure to check for oncoming traffic when turning left. If you look at an aerial photo, you'll see that this entire triangular junction was rebuilt a few hundred feet to the west when WSDOT built a new bridge over the Walla Walla River. Most of the pavement and half the bridge still exist.

US 730 is a pleasant drive along the Columbia and I must say that the Washington portion is the best.

Sunday, October 13, 2024

Washington State Route 706

On Sunday, October 6, 2024, we drove Washington State Route 706 to the gate of Mount Rainier National Park. It was not nearly as much fun as you might expect.

State route No. 706—Road to Paradise:

A state highway to be known as state route number 706, designated the Road to Paradise, is established as follows:
Beginning at a junction with state route number 7 at Elbe, thence easterly to a southwest entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park.

Highway 706 starts here in Elbe at a junction with SR 7. You have to turn right to stay on 7.

The forested Nisqually River valley is sprinkled with a few farms. The evergreen forest is dark; the deciduous forest is full of autumn colors. About halfway along the highway, we arrive at the town of Ashford, pictured above.

We progress deeper into the forest. At milepost 10, still 3.5 miles from the end of Highway 706, we hit a traffic jam. Two excrutiating hours later, we arrive at the end of Highway 706, directly under this entrance gate to Mount Rainier National Park.

You ask, why was there a two-hour traffic jam? Because the federal government is incompetent, that's why. They capped entry to the park during the summer months. We arrived on the first unrestricted weekend and thus we see the pent-up demand. We couldn't even find a parking spot at Paradise. It was getting late anyway, so we left and visted other places.

A major part of the problem is that the park requires everyone to stop at the toll booth on entry, even if you paid in advance. If they had payment enforcement like Washington State's Discover Pass, there would be no line at the gate. There'd be a kiosk where you could stop to buy a pass or you could just drive on in, if you already had one.

The federal government has no constitutional authority to have national parks, anyway. This should be Mount Rainier State Park.

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Washington State Route 705

On Sunday, September 1, 2024, we drove I-705 into Tacoma. It's the fourteenth shortest interstate highway in the US, only 1.5 miles long.

State route No. 705:

A state highway to be known as state route number 705 is established as follows:
Beginning at a junction with state route number 5 in Tacoma, thence northerly to a junction with Schuster Parkway in the Tacoma central business district.

Under I-5, SR 7 transitions to I-705.

You have to merge left to stay on I-705 and avoid the exit to the Tacoma Dome. Downtown Tacoma comes into view. Here at the junction with SR 509, you can see only one lane continues north on I-705. Two lanes exit left into the city, which is more than a little confusing, but that's where most drivers are going. Southbound I-705 has at least two lanes the whole way, but northbound has two one-lane stretches for some reason.

I-705 continues another mile, passing downtown Tacoma and ending without a sign to transition to a city street, Schuster Parkway. This point is chosen as it's where there's a southbound onramp, but you can't see that from the northbound lanes.

We continued onward to the Old Town waterfront. I-705 is a fast road, so pick your lane wisely and quickly.

Monday, September 16, 2024

Washington State Route 704

On Sunday, September 1, 2024, we drove Washington State Route 704, or what there is of it.

State route No. 704:

A state highway to be known as state route number 704 is established as follows: Beginning at a junction with state route number 5 in south Pierce county, thence easterly across Fort Lewis to a junction with state route number 7.

Highway 704 does not begin at I-5. The western mile and a half hasn't been built yet, and probably never will be. Thus we begin the "Cross-Base Highway" at this intersection with Spanaway Loop Road.

Twenty years ago, the government was gung-ho for building this highway, but all they managed to do was widen a half mile of Spanaway Loop Road and rename it. That was in 2009. Here we are, halfway along. It's not the shortest state highway in Washington, but it's not longer by much.

In 2017, they changed their minds. A lack of funding and then priorities changed. There's already an existing road connecting I-5 to Spanaway Loop Road, called Perimeter Road. The Cross-Base Highway would handle more traffic and save a few minutes for any drivers, but apparently Perimeter Road just isn't busy enough to warrant that. Highway 704 ends at a junction with SR 7. Since we drove SR 7 in 2008, before Highway 704 was "built", you'll notice I don't mention it on that drive.

The state already announced they don't plan to build the rest of Highway 704. They should just give the street back to the county. Remove the confusing signs and let's pretend it never happened.

Washington State Route 702

On Sunday, September 1, 2024, we drove east east east on Washington State Route 702.

State route No. 702:

A state highway to be known as state route number 702 is established as follows:
Beginning at a junction with state route number 507 at McKenna, thence easterly to a junction with state route number 7.

Here Highway 702 begins at the junction with SR 507.

We head east through farms and forests, gradually leaving the Nisqually valley. Highway 702 bumps over several small ridges, drumlins left from the last ice age. Ahead of us, Mt Rainier dominates the horizon. Halfway between here and there, the photo above.

The forest is a bit swampy. The forest and farms transition to houses and farms, and then to houses and forests. Somehow the straight road takes longer to drive than a curved road would. We finally reach the junction with SR 7. Highway 702 is at an end.

It's a busy two-lane road. Lots of people in a hurry through the countryside. The scenery is nice enough, if they'd just slow down and enjoy it.