The Lakewood Public Works Engineering Department combined with the Community and Economic Development to form the Planning and Public Works Department. This department is responsible for transportation planning, engineering, street systems, and surface water & stormwater management. Find information about land use and planning here.
Lakewood Public Works Engineering
6000 Main St SW, 2nd Floor
Lakewood, WA 98499
253-589-2489
[email protected]
Phones:
Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Counter:
Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
In the event of a spill or hazardous material response, contact:
Washington Department of Emergency Management: 1-800-OILS-911
U.S. Coast Guard National Response Center: 1-800-424-8802
Contacts
Right-of-Way permit inspection hotline
Two-day notice required
253-983-7891
Lakewood Operations & Maintenance (24/7)
Stop sign down, yield sign missing, etc.
253-267-1628
After-hours signal malfunctions
Non-emergency South Sound 911 dispatch
253-287-4455
Construction Projects
The JBLM North Access Improvement Project will rebuild roads along Washington Blvd/North Gate Rd/Edgewood Ave from the western city limit to Gravelly Lake Drive. This will improve the lives of residents by adding sidewalks, bike lanes, landscaping, and street lighting.
The project entered its final phase in the summer of 2023. Completion is expected in early 2024. Read more about this project.
Steilacoom Boulevard is a major road through the City of Lakewood. The city has focused on increasing pedestrian and vehicle safety on this roadway. This includes the addition of bike facilities, wider sidewalks, curbs, improved street lighting and new traffic signals.
Work was done in 2022 on the first section between 88th Street and Weller Road. Work is expected to begin in spring 2024 on the next section between Weller Road and 87th Avenue SW. Read more about the project.
This project adds sidewalks, curb and gutter and street lighting to Ardmore Drive SW, Whitman Avenue SW and 93rd Steet SW. A new road surface will also be added where necessary. Once complete this will link newly built sidewalks along the Steilacoom Boulevard corridor to the city’s downtown Business District that includes the newly developed plaza on Motor Avenue and Lakewood Towne Center. Work began in late November 2023. Read more.
Work began in December 2023 to make improvements to Hipkins Road SW. This work ties into improvements made earlier in 2023 to Angle Lane and Elwood Drive. Improvements include adding sidewalks, curbs and gutters and streetlights. A roundabout will go in at the North Way and Hipkins intersection. A second roundabout at the Elwood/Dresden/87th intersection was installed during the summer of 2023. Read more.
Construction Projects
Project Description: Each summer the city performs work on dedicated roadways to extend their life and improve their condition. This is done by patching and crack sealing the road before chip seal application.
When roads are chip sealed, liquid asphalt is spread and rock chips dropped down. The rock chips remain uncovered for a few days after they are dropped, allowing vehicles to press the chips into the asphalt base. Then, a layer of liquefied asphalt is applied on top of the chips locking them in place.
During construction, expect temporary lane closures. Road sweeping will happen to remove as much loose rock as possible. All traffic should use caution, and motorcycles should use extreme caution, during this work due to loose rocks. Please avoid parking cars on the roadway shoulder during construction. Chip sealing is a cost effective method of preserving the roadway with minimal impacts to the public.
Thank you for your patience during this work.
Project Manager: Tim Motoh, 253-983-7777.
Project Status: Yearly, ongoing project.
Project Description: This project determines the feasibility of retrofitting three stormwater outfalls that discharge to Seeley Lake, and an infiltration system that discharges to groundwater near the intersection of Bridgeport Way and Gravelly Lake Dr. The outfalls to Seeley Lake discharge stormwater from Gravelly Lake Dr., Bridgeport Way and 100th St., and Lakewood Dr. east, including a large portion of the Lakewood Industrial Park. Challenges include large drainage basins, private property issues, and design constraints.
Estimated Cost: $60,000
Project Manager: Weston Ott, Engineering Services Manager, 253-983-7771.
Project Status: The city partnered with Pierce County Parks to conduct a feasibility study for Seeley Lake Park to look not only at the stormwater that drains into the park, but also at the condition of the lake, which is classified as wetland, and public access improvements in and around the park. In addition to the budged city funds, the county pledged $100,000 to the project.
Project Description: This annual program provides funding to make minor capital improvements to include traffic studies, community outreach, signage, pavement markings, radar feedback signs, speed humps, and engineering to improve safety in neighborhoods.
Estimated Cost: $25,000
Project Manager: Jon Howe, Associate Civil Engineer, 253-983-7847, [email protected].
Project Status: Yearly, ongoing project.
Project Description: This annual program allows the City to take a proactive approach in support of pavement patching, street paint striping, roadway markings, and driveway and sidewalk panel replacement.
Estimated Cost: $250,000
Project Manager: Pavement patching contact: Tim Motoh, 253-983-7777; road striping contact: Jon Howe, 253-983-7847.
Project Status: Yearly, ongoing project.
Project Description: The city will continue to invest in street lights each year. It is anticipated that all neighborhoods will have new LED streetlights by 2023/2024.
A 2021 streetlight project placed 58 streetlights in the North Lakewood part of the city.
Estimated Cost: $175,000
Project Status: Yearly, ongoing project.
Roadway Improvements Proposed for Lakewood’s International District along South Tacoma Way
Documents
Common Questions
How do I report potholes?
- Please use MyLakewood311 to report potholes. Our typical response time is 1-3 business days. You may report online or through the Android or iOS apps.
When will my street be swept?
- View this map (PDF) to see the city’s street sweeping schedule. The different colors show how often the street sweeper runs through the city. Please use MyLakewood311 to request street sweeping service in your neighborhood.