Alternate Routes To The Tacoma Dome

You're driving south to a Sonic game at the Tacoma Dome when you hear the radio report that will drive you crazy: "I-5 southbound is a virtual parking lot."

Actually, it won't take additional Sonic traffic to make I-5 in the Fife and Tacoma areas congested. The slightest fender bender in the heavy rush-hour traffic already can turn the commute into a maddening mind bender. The I-5 bridge over the Puyallup River is a particularly troublesome spot.

Add in Sonic fans hurrying to the Dome for the 7 p.m. tipoff, and there's potential that some will end up listening to the game on their car radios instead of watching it in person.

If that happens, there are a few alternate routes to consider, depending on the location of the jam or how far traffic is backed up.

1. If necessary, get off I-5 at either Exit 143 (Federal Way/S. 320th) or Exit 142B (Highway 18/Puyallup). Go west to Pacific Highway and then turn left, going south toward Tacoma. This simple detour works best if the I-5 blockage occurred recently; otherwise, everyone else tries it, too, and - presto - there's a Pacific Highway jam-up to equal I-5.

2. The same alternate route exists if you get as far south as the Exit 137 (Fife/Milton). Go right to the first stoplight and then left on Pacific Highway. The four-lane road, with traffic signals, eventually crosses the Puyallup River and gets you to the Tacoma Dome the back way.

3. If traffic on I-5 and Pacific Highway are both at a near standstill, get off at Fife/Milton and go straight on 54th Avenue East across Pacific Highway. From there, go approximately 1 mile to East West Road, which essentially parallels Pacific Highway. Turn left and follow it 2.3 miles to the end, and turn left on Milwaukee Way. Then follow the signs to Tacoma.

4. Another route taking the Fife/Milton exit would be to proceed on 54th Avenue East., which curves and becomes Taylor Way. After 3.3 miles, you'll come to E. 11th Street. Turn left and stay on 11th into downtown Tacoma. Go left on Pacific Avenue and then left again on East 26th Street. The Dome is just ahead.

5. If traffic on both I-5 and Pacific Highway are severely blocked: Get off I-5 at Exit 142B. Go west to Pacific Highway and then south on Pacific just a few blocks. Turn right on Southwest 356th Street. Turn left down the hill on Norpoint Way Northeast. Cross through the Port of Tacoma on East 11th Street (and hope that the 11th Street Bridge isn't open for boat traffic) into downtown Tacoma. Then go left on Pacific Avenue and left again on East 26th Street.

-- Using Highway 167 in the Auburn Valley as an alternate route will take longer but, sometimes, is a reasonable alternative if I-5 is at a standstill. Take Exit 142A (Highway 18/Auburn). Go south on Highway 167. Follow that to its intersection with Meridian Street in Puyallup. Go left, cross the bridge, then turn right on Lower River Road and that, after several miles, will lead you back under I-5. Immediately after you cross under I-5, follow the sign to Seattle that loops you to the left. But instead of continuing back under I-5, turn right at the stop sign, on East 27th Street, and follow it to the Dome.