Washington State Route 509 is an approximately 35 mile state highway spanning from WA 99 in Seattle southwest to I-705 in Tacoma. The routing of WA 509 varies from freeway segments, to major surface arterial roadways and even to coastal bluff roads. While certainly not the fast way between Seattle and Tacoma it does serve as a semi-scenic alternate to the topical slog of I-5. I began my drive on WA 509 heading southbound. With that being the case I approached WA 509 on WA 99 southbound. WA 509 is signed as "To" route via WA 99 as it crosses over the Duwamish Waterway. WA 99 crosses the Duwamish Waterway on the First Avenue South Bridge. The two spans of the First Avenue South Bridge were completed in 1956 and 1998, both are draw spans. Oddly WA 99 traffic is directed to exit on the First Avenue South Bridge while WA 509 continues ahead as a freeway. The next major junction on WA 509 southbound is at WA 518 n...
Because every road has a story.