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.
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.
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