WSDOT tells Des Moines council SR 509 expressway to open for toll testing in June; tolling and low-income program set for later dates

Representatives of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) briefed the Des Moines City Council on June 12 about construction progress on the Puget Sound Gateway Program and the SR 509 completion project, including an opening timeline, toll-rate policy and community outreach.

John White, program administrator for WSDOT’s Puget Sound Gateway program, said the project remains on a schedule that anticipates corridor completion in 2028 and that a roughly one-mile section of new expressway would open later in June for a toll-testing period. “We are on the home stretch towards completion,” White said, adding WSDOT has pursued federal, state, local and toll funding to deliver the corridors.

Construction lead Andre Chapelle told the council crews were completing paving, equipment installation and lighting in the Veterans Drive tunnel and the adjacent expressway segment. He said the corridor would be open for about three months of toll-free testing after the June opening, then tolling would commence later this fall once the Washington State Transportation Commission finalizes rates. “We are just a few weeks away to open up expressway for toll testing. June, we're gonna open that up,” Chapelle said.

White described the toll policy work handled by the Transportation Commission: tolls will vary by time of day, include higher peak rates and a truck multiplier for three-plus-axle vehicles, and include an escalation factor the commission factored in to offset inflation. He also said the commission has worked on a programmatic low-income toll policy; the low-income program will be in place by late 2026 and apply when the SR 167 segment opens, with the policy then applying to both corridors.

Chapelle provided operational details for the opened segment: northbound access will use a flyover before the 216th Street interchange, with tolling points where drivers enter the expressway; southbound access will use a new ramp from 204th/20th Avenue South. He said preliminary toll testing in June would be toll-free to let the public experience the new facility and system prior to formal toll commencement in September.

WSDOT told the council the gateways remain funded by a mix of partner contributions, federal grants, state funds and approximately $200 million in toll revenue. White said the program’s remaining need to finish both corridors stands at roughly $2.83 billion.

City and WSDOT staff discussed community outreach plans: WSDOT said it will appear at the Des Moines Farmers Market later this summer, run “drive-through” videos explaining how to use the new ramps and roundabouts, provide advance construction notifications and coordinate a marketing campaign to encourage Good To Go account signups. White said transponders and some free transponders will be available for a limited time so drivers pay the lowest possible toll rate.

Council members raised the need for more street-level visuals showing how new ramps, roundabouts and the Veterans Drive tunnel will operate for local drivers. Councilmember Harris asked for additional user-experience renderings; WSDOT said a drive-through video is available online and can be shared through the city's channels.

WSDOT also described Stage 2 construction work, including earthmoving, bridges (notably a new bridge over Des Moines Memorial Drive), mitigation-site planting and roundabout construction; the agency expects to open the full corridor in 2028 subject to construction conditions and supply markets.

No council action was required; the presentation provided schedule, toll-policy and outreach details and identified follow-up points for staff and the agency to coordinate community-level materials and notifications ahead of toll testing and opening.