WSU LID Frontage Improvements

WSU Frontage Improvements

Project Overview



The WSU Low Impact Development (LID) and Frontage Improvement Project provides economic development, environmental, water quality, and alternative transportation benefits while establishing the largest Low Impact Development demonstration site in the State of Washington. The project includes porous asphalt and pervious concrete improvements on existing streets along Washington State University (WSU) frontage in Puyallup. The project will establish provide water quality treatment for over seven million gallons of stormwater per year that would otherwise flow into Clarks Creek and other nearby salmon-bearing creeks as untreated runoff. That’s enough water to cover a football field almost 20 feet deep.

The overall project is divided into five phases for management and funding purposes. The project goals address TMDL requirements of the City's NPDES Stormwater permit: remove impervious surface and reduce untreated stormwater flows into Clarks Creek. Additional benefits of the project include: repair failing roadways, improve safety by adding separated sidewalks and cycle tracks, increase utility capacity, demonstrate the application and benefits of LID with real-time data, provide water quality data for WSU-based research for LID Best Management Practices, and dramatically improve local water quality through on-site stormwater management. The project will replace existing impervious roadways with pervious concrete and porous asphalt, add pervious concrete sidewalks, and install rain gardens in the medians and sidewalk setback areas.

Project Status

Phase 4B - Status - Complete

May 2022 - The contractor has completed construction ahead of schedule.

February 2022 - Design is complete and construction will begin. Construction will be from February through July 2022.

Phase 4A - Status - Complete

11/20 - Phase has completed construction

2/26/20 - Design is nearing completion.  Utility relocations are currently underway. Environmental permitting is expected to be completed soon.  Construction is anticipated to begin in June 2020 and be completed by November 2020.  While traffic interruptions will be limited as much as possible, please expect some minor delays during construction.  

Phase 1 Construction - Completed

Contractor - Northwest Cascade, Inc.

Total Final Construction Cost - $1,280,917.14

Project Phases

Description Status Funding
Phase 1: W Pioneer-Clarks Creek bridge to Fruitland Ave intersection Design-Complete
Construction-Complete
Design-100% funded with grant and city funds
Construction-100% funded with grant and city funds
Phase 2: Fruitland Ave-intersection with W Pioneer to 9th Ave SW Conceptual Not funded
Phase 3: Intersection of W Pioneer & Fruitland Avenue Deign-2017-2019

​Construction-TBD
Design-100% funded with city funds

​Construction-seeking funding
Phase 4A: W Pioneer-600-foot section west of Fruitland intersection Design-2017-2020
Construction-Complete
Design-100% grant funded

Construction- Funded with grant and city funds
Phase 4B: W Pioneer-700-foot section west of Phase 4A Design-2017-2020
Construction-Complete
Design-100% grant funded


​Construction-Funded with grants & seeking additional
Phase 4C: W Pioneer - section west of Phase 4B to City limits Design-2021

Construction-TBD
Design - Seeking funding

Construction - TBD
Phase 5: 9th Avenue SW, west of Fruitland Avenue Conceptual Not funded
View map of the project phases
  1. Ryan Rutkosky, P.E.

    Senior Civil Engineer

Status Updates

Review of milestones in the project​
  • End of 2019 - Construction completed for phase 1
  • Q1 2019 - Construction begins on Phase 1.
  • May 23, 2017 - Contract awarded to KPG to continue design on Phases 3, 4a and 4b.
  • 2015 - Phase 1 Design completed in 2015 under earlier grant funding.