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Lakewood council adopts 2027–2032 transportation plan after removing contentious 75th Street bridge project
Summary
After extensive public comment, the Lakewood City Council adopted the 2027–2032 Transportation Improvement Program as amended, deleting the proposed 75th Street Bridge project and adding a Bridgeport Way gateway/street improvement project. The vote on the final package was 6–1.
The Lakewood City Council voted June 1 to adopt the 2027–2032 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) as amended, removing the proposed 75th Street Bridge (project 2027-3) and adding a Bridgeport Way gateway/street-improvement project (added as project 2027-56).
The TIP presentation by public works staff explained that the program is a state-required, six-year list of transportation projects. After weeks of public input and another night of public testimony, Council Member Brandsteader moved to amend the TIP "to delete project 2027-3 which is the 75th Street Phillips to Kuster" because designers and residents had not been given adequate project detail, and the project had not been clearly demonstrated in the comprehensive plan. The amendment passed on a council vote.
Residents and neighborhood groups had urged removal of the bridge element during public comment. Chris Fruit Rich told the council: "I would like to propose that the council amend the transportation improvement plan for 2026 to exclude the 75th Street Bridge item," arguing the public lacked basic materials such as traffic studies, maps and renderings. Several neighbors likewise said the bridge would harm greenbelt areas and homes and that the $16 million estimate cited by commenters likely understated total costs.
Council then voted to add a new project focused on Bridgeport Way from I‑5 to Gravelly Lake Drive, described by its sponsor as a gateway and streetscape improvement intended to address corridor deficiencies, pedestrian connectivity and ADA needs. Staff said the state requires that projects be on a TIP list to be eligible for many grants but that the state does not enforce local priority order; council members noted adding the gateway project aligns with the city’s comprehensive plan language about urban corridors.
A separate motion to postpone final approval to allow council-directed rescoring of TIP priorities was moved and seconded but failed in a roll-call vote. The TIP, as amended on the dais, passed by a 6–1 roll call.
Council members and staff said next steps include scoping, grant applications for funded elements, and continuing design work on projects retained in the program. Several council members also asked staff to provide clearer public outreach when new projects are placed on the TIP so affected neighborhoods receive direct notice and opportunity for review.
The council’s action changes the city’s formal list of projects that staff will present to the state and positions the Bridgeport gateway project for future funding discussions; the 75th Street Bridge will not appear on the adopted six-year program.
