Cell Phone Lot Access and Air Cargo Road Safety Improvements

Status: Completed Q1 2022

Since the creation of the S. 170th Street cell phone lot in 2014, the continued rise in airport traffic has proven this is a popular amenity but congestion was a challenge. This project created a new entrance route from the Southbound Airport Expressway to the cell phone lot and implemented traffic and pedestrian safety improvements along S. 170th Street and Air Cargo Road.

Project Overview

Cell Phone Lot Access Improvements

A new cell phone lot entrance ramp has been constructed using an existing segment of the old Airport Expressway to separate incoming traffic from the congestion at S. 170th St. This provides a direct entry into a new entrance on the south end of the cell phone lot. In addition, the overpass eliminates oncoming traffic to provide a direct left-turn upon exiting the lot.

Other improvements include an easier-to-maneuver one-way parking lot configuration, added pavement for circulation, an upgraded traffic signal, and new dual right-turn lanes onto Air Cargo Road providing additional capacity improvements for the return to the Main Terminal. Finally, an additional signal has been installed along S. 170th Street for safer exiting traffic from the Northbound Expressway. 

Air Cargo Road Access and Safety Improvements

These roadways serve as primary access routes used by cell phone lot customers, ground transportation, rental car buses, local businesses, and other airport services to-and-from the Main Terminal.

Additional access and safety improvements along S. 170th Street and Air Cargo Road include pavement remediation, roadway illumination, and landscaping. 

1. Air Cargo Road / S. 170th St. - Dual right turn lanes to return to terminal
2. Cell Phone Lot Improvements - New cell phone lot entrance ramp on S. 170th St. exit and dedicated entrance
3. S. 170th St. / Northbound Off-ramp - New traffic signal and added lane for a northbound left turn
4. New Pervious Sidewalks and Bus Stops along Air Cargo Road improve pedestrian safety
5. Air Cargo Road / Southbound On-ramp - Protected southbound left turn and northbound thru movements
6. S. 170th St. / International Blvd. - Designated center eastbound lane for thru movement only

Community Benefits

The Port is committed to advancing equity and addressing contracting disparities by increasing the utilization of Women Minority Business Enterprises (WMBE) and other disadvantaged firms. A WMBE aspirational goal of nine percent has been established for the design and construction procurements. This project not only achieved the WMBE goals but exceeded them with about a 25 percent total for the contract.

A benefit of this project design for the Cell Phone Lot access is that SEA was able to repurpose existing infrastructure, such as the bridge over S. 170th St., rather than having to create new which could have resulted in longer construction times, more pavement, and additional structures. 

Timeline

Estimated Project Costs

The estimated budget for the overall project is $13.5 million.