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Legislature considers naming new Fife overpass for late public‑works director Russ Blunt
Summary
House Joint Memorial 4001 would request that the State Transportation Commission name a future 34th Avenue East overpass in Fife the Russ Blunt Memorial Bridge. Family members, local officials and regional partners testified in support, describing Mr. Blunt’s two decades of service to Fife and regional transportation projects.
The House Transportation Committee heard testimony Jan. 23 on House Joint Memorial 4001, which asks the Washington State Transportation Commission to commence proceedings to name the future 34th Avenue East overpass in Fife the Russ Blunt Memorial Bridge.
Chris Thomas, staff to the committee, described the administrative naming process and summarized Mr. Blunt’s public service. Thomas said Russell Gilbert Blunt (born December 1958) served the City of Fife for 20 years, including 17 years as public works director, later as deputy city manager and interim city manager, and that local entities including the City of Fife, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and the Tacoma‑Pierce County Chamber of Commerce support the request.
Representative Fye, who presented the memorial, described Mr. Blunt as “the prime transportation leader, at the local level” in Pierce County and said the memorial is a tribute to his contributions. Deborah Gorman Blunt, Mr. Blunt’s widow, provided personal testimony describing his career, mentorship and community engagement and said naming the bridge would be “an incredible honor.”
Fife Mayor Roscoe told the committee Mr. Blunt “was instrumental in solving various disagreements, competing desires, funding challenges, and equitable distribution of grant funds,” and that regional partners support the naming for a freight‑related project that provides access into the Port of Tacoma.
Committee staff said a fiscal note was not requested. No committee vote was recorded at the hearing; the memorial, if passed by the Legislature, would trigger the Transportation Commission’s naming process and WSDOT’s sign installation.
