State Route 203 (Washington)
Encyclopedia
State Route 203 is a Washington state highway
in King
and Snohomish
counties. The 24.26 miles (39.04 km) route begins at an intersection with in Fall City
. The highway extends north past Carnation
and Duvall
to end at (US 2) in Monroe
. The roadway connects Fall City, Carnation, Duvall and Monroe, all located along the Snoqualmie River
, which SR 203 roughly parallels.
The route originally was divided into four separate roads, Fall City–Carnation, Carnation–Duvall, Duvall–Monroe and Lewis Street. The first road to be paved, Lewis Street in Monroe, was completed in 1912; the roads were later combined to form (SSH 15B) in 1937. SSH 15B was later renumbered to SR 203 in 1964 during the highway renumbering. Two corridor improvement projects for the King and Snohomish county portions of the road are currently in the design stage and will start in 2010.
. There, the road is named the Fall City–Carnation Road and travels northwest, paralleling the former route of the Monroe
–Tanner
route operated by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
. After bridging the Rutherford Slough twice, the route travels closer to the shoreline of the Snoqualmie River
. SR 203 runs north past Northeast Tolt Hill Road to cross the Tolt River
into Carnation
. Leaving Carnation, the highway becomes the Carnation–Duvall Road and intersects Carnation Farm Road before curving west to intersect Stillwater Hill Road. Eventually, the roadway continues the original northern route past the 124th Street roundabout
into Duvall
. In Duvall, SR 203 intersects the Woodinville
–Duvall Road and Cherry Valley Road before curving along the Snoqualmie River shoreline into Snohomish County
. After leaving Duvall and King County, SR 203 becomes the Duvall–Monroe Road and travels north to cross the Skykomish River
and enter Monroe as Lewis Street. In Monroe, the highway parallels Woods Creek and intersects Main Street near the Monroe Greyhound Lines
station. After Main Street, the road crosses the BNSF Railway
Everett
–Spokane
line and ends at an intersection with (US 2) and Chain Lake Road. South of the US 2 intersection, an estimated 15,000 motorists used Lewis Street daily in 2007 based on average annual daily traffic (AADT) data collected by the Washington State Department of Transportation
.
, Carnation
, Duvall
and Monroe
, named Fall City–Carnation Road, Carnation–Duvall Road, Duvall–Monroe Road and Lewis Street, respectively; these names are still used to identify the route. Lewis Street became the first portion of the highway to be paved when the City of Monroe improved it in 1912. The roads paralleled the former Monroe–Tanner route of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
. All four roadways were later combined to form (SSH 15B) in 1937, during the creation of the Primary and secondary highway system. The Washington State Legislature
renumbered and changed the system in 1964 and SSH 15B became SR 203.
Recently, smaller projects arranged by the Washington State Department of Transportation
(WSDOT) have helped improve traffic on SR 203. Completed in 2004, a roundabout
was constructed at the NE 124th Street intersection, located south of Duvall. During 2002, the first 4 miles (6.44 km) stretch of the highway suffered from four fatal collisions and WSDOT responded by obtaining funding for a new project that would install rumble strips
and guard rail
s along the 18.07 miles (29.08 km) of the road within King County
. The project is scheduled to be advertised to contractors in October 2009. A similar project will take place on the 6.19 miles (9.96 km) stretch in Snohomish County
, where 348 collisions occurred between 2002 and 2009, 120 causing injuries. At North High Rock Road, there will be a new left turn lane installed and the rest of the route will have guard rails, rumble strips, updated signage
, pavement markings
and new lighting. The project will be advertised to contractors in November 2009 and the construction is set to begin in spring 2010.
State highways in Washington
In the U.S. state of Washington, the Washington State Department of Transportation maintains a network of over 7000 miles of state highways, including all Interstate and U.S. Highways that pass through the state. The system comprises 8.5% of the state's public road mileage, but carries over half...
in King
King County, Washington
King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....
and Snohomish
Snohomish County, Washington
Snohomish County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after the Snohomish tribe. Since 2000, the county's population has grown from 606,024 to 713,335 residents , making it one of the fastest-growing in the state, ranking third in overall population after King and...
counties. The 24.26 miles (39.04 km) route begins at an intersection with in Fall City
Fall City, Washington
Fall City is a census-designated place in King County, Washington, United States. Located 26 miles east of Seattle, the community lies along the Snoqualmie River. The population was 1,993 at the 2010 census...
. The highway extends north past Carnation
Carnation, Washington
Carnation is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,786 at the 2010 census.-History:Settled in 1865, Carnation was officially incorporated on December 30, 1912, as Tolt. The name was changed to Carnation in 1917, back to Tolt on May 3, 1928, and finally back to...
and Duvall
Duvall, Washington
Duvall is a city in King County, Washington, United States, located on SR 203, halfway between Monroe and Carnation. The population was 6,695 at the 2010 census.-History:...
to end at (US 2) in Monroe
Monroe, Washington
Monroe is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population as of 17,304 at the 2010 census.-History:The history of Monroe is intertwined with that of the Great Northern Railway which pushed over the Cascade Range at Stevens Pass and worked its way down the Skykomish River...
. The roadway connects Fall City, Carnation, Duvall and Monroe, all located along the Snoqualmie River
Snoqualmie River
The Snoqualmie River is a long river in King County and Snohomish County in the U.S. state of Washington. The river's three main tributaries are the North, Middle, and South Forks, which drain the west side of the Cascade Mountains near the town of North Bend and join near the town of Snoqualmie...
, which SR 203 roughly parallels.
The route originally was divided into four separate roads, Fall City–Carnation, Carnation–Duvall, Duvall–Monroe and Lewis Street. The first road to be paved, Lewis Street in Monroe, was completed in 1912; the roads were later combined to form (SSH 15B) in 1937. SSH 15B was later renumbered to SR 203 in 1964 during the highway renumbering. Two corridor improvement projects for the King and Snohomish county portions of the road are currently in the design stage and will start in 2010.
Route description
State Route 203 (SR 203) begins its 24.26 miles (39.04 km) of highway at an interesction with , a primarily west–east route, in Fall CityFall City, Washington
Fall City is a census-designated place in King County, Washington, United States. Located 26 miles east of Seattle, the community lies along the Snoqualmie River. The population was 1,993 at the 2010 census...
. There, the road is named the Fall City–Carnation Road and travels northwest, paralleling the former route of the Monroe
Monroe, Washington
Monroe is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population as of 17,304 at the 2010 census.-History:The history of Monroe is intertwined with that of the Great Northern Railway which pushed over the Cascade Range at Stevens Pass and worked its way down the Skykomish River...
–Tanner
Tanner, Washington
Tanner is a Census-Designated Place in east King County, Washington.Based on per capita income, one of the more reliable measures of affluence, Tanner ranks 46th of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be ranked.-Geography:...
route operated by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
The Milwaukee Road, officially the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad , was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwest and Northwest of the United States from 1847 until its merger into the Soo Line Railroad on January 1, 1986. The company went through several official names...
. After bridging the Rutherford Slough twice, the route travels closer to the shoreline of the Snoqualmie River
Snoqualmie River
The Snoqualmie River is a long river in King County and Snohomish County in the U.S. state of Washington. The river's three main tributaries are the North, Middle, and South Forks, which drain the west side of the Cascade Mountains near the town of North Bend and join near the town of Snoqualmie...
. SR 203 runs north past Northeast Tolt Hill Road to cross the Tolt River
Tolt River
The Tolt River is located in the western foothills of the Cascade Mountains in north central King County in the U.S. state of Washington. The river begins at the confluence of the North Fork Tolt and South Fork Tolt rivers. It flows southwest joining the Snoqualmie River near Carnation, Washington...
into Carnation
Carnation, Washington
Carnation is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,786 at the 2010 census.-History:Settled in 1865, Carnation was officially incorporated on December 30, 1912, as Tolt. The name was changed to Carnation in 1917, back to Tolt on May 3, 1928, and finally back to...
. Leaving Carnation, the highway becomes the Carnation–Duvall Road and intersects Carnation Farm Road before curving west to intersect Stillwater Hill Road. Eventually, the roadway continues the original northern route past the 124th Street roundabout
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
into Duvall
Duvall, Washington
Duvall is a city in King County, Washington, United States, located on SR 203, halfway between Monroe and Carnation. The population was 6,695 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. In Duvall, SR 203 intersects the Woodinville
Woodinville, Washington
Woodinville is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 10,938 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Seattle metropolitan area. There is also a much larger population with Woodinville mailing addresses in adjacent unincorporated areas of King and Snohomish counties...
–Duvall Road and Cherry Valley Road before curving along the Snoqualmie River shoreline into Snohomish County
Snohomish County, Washington
Snohomish County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after the Snohomish tribe. Since 2000, the county's population has grown from 606,024 to 713,335 residents , making it one of the fastest-growing in the state, ranking third in overall population after King and...
. After leaving Duvall and King County, SR 203 becomes the Duvall–Monroe Road and travels north to cross the Skykomish River
Skykomish River
The Skykomish River is a Washington river which drains the west side of the Cascade Mountains in the southeast section of Snohomish County and the northeast corner of King County. The river starts with the confluence of the North Fork Skykomish River and South Fork Skykomish River approximately one...
and enter Monroe as Lewis Street. In Monroe, the highway parallels Woods Creek and intersects Main Street near the Monroe Greyhound Lines
Greyhound Lines
Greyhound Lines, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, operating under the well-known logo of a leaping greyhound. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and...
station. After Main Street, the road crosses the BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
Everett
Everett, Washington
Everett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
–Spokane
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
line and ends at an intersection with (US 2) and Chain Lake Road. South of the US 2 intersection, an estimated 15,000 motorists used Lewis Street daily in 2007 based on average annual daily traffic (AADT) data collected by the Washington State Department of Transportation
Washington State Department of Transportation
The Washington State Department of Transportation , was established in 1905. The agency, led by a Secretary and overseen by the Governor, is a Washington governmental agency that constructs, maintains, and regulates the use of the state's transportation infrastructure...
.
History
SR 203 was originally four roads that linked each other and their communities, Fall CityFall City, Washington
Fall City is a census-designated place in King County, Washington, United States. Located 26 miles east of Seattle, the community lies along the Snoqualmie River. The population was 1,993 at the 2010 census...
, Carnation
Carnation, Washington
Carnation is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,786 at the 2010 census.-History:Settled in 1865, Carnation was officially incorporated on December 30, 1912, as Tolt. The name was changed to Carnation in 1917, back to Tolt on May 3, 1928, and finally back to...
, Duvall
Duvall, Washington
Duvall is a city in King County, Washington, United States, located on SR 203, halfway between Monroe and Carnation. The population was 6,695 at the 2010 census.-History:...
and Monroe
Monroe, Washington
Monroe is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population as of 17,304 at the 2010 census.-History:The history of Monroe is intertwined with that of the Great Northern Railway which pushed over the Cascade Range at Stevens Pass and worked its way down the Skykomish River...
, named Fall City–Carnation Road, Carnation–Duvall Road, Duvall–Monroe Road and Lewis Street, respectively; these names are still used to identify the route. Lewis Street became the first portion of the highway to be paved when the City of Monroe improved it in 1912. The roads paralleled the former Monroe–Tanner route of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
The Milwaukee Road, officially the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad , was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwest and Northwest of the United States from 1847 until its merger into the Soo Line Railroad on January 1, 1986. The company went through several official names...
. All four roadways were later combined to form (SSH 15B) in 1937, during the creation of the Primary and secondary highway system. The Washington State Legislature
Washington State Legislature
The Washington State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Washington. It is a bipartisan, bicameral body, composed of the lower Washington House of Representatives, composed of 98 Representatives, and the upper Washington State Senate, with 49 Senators.The State Legislature...
renumbered and changed the system in 1964 and SSH 15B became SR 203.
Recently, smaller projects arranged by the Washington State Department of Transportation
Washington State Department of Transportation
The Washington State Department of Transportation , was established in 1905. The agency, led by a Secretary and overseen by the Governor, is a Washington governmental agency that constructs, maintains, and regulates the use of the state's transportation infrastructure...
(WSDOT) have helped improve traffic on SR 203. Completed in 2004, a roundabout
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
was constructed at the NE 124th Street intersection, located south of Duvall. During 2002, the first 4 miles (6.44 km) stretch of the highway suffered from four fatal collisions and WSDOT responded by obtaining funding for a new project that would install rumble strips
Rumble Strips
Rumble Strips may refer to:* Rumble strip, the road safety feature* The Rumble Strips, the British band...
and guard rail
Guard rail
Guard rail or guardrail, sometimes referred to as guide rail or railing, is a system designed to keep people or vehicles from straying into dangerous or off-limits areas...
s along the 18.07 miles (29.08 km) of the road within King County
King County, Washington
King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....
. The project is scheduled to be advertised to contractors in October 2009. A similar project will take place on the 6.19 miles (9.96 km) stretch in Snohomish County
Snohomish County, Washington
Snohomish County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after the Snohomish tribe. Since 2000, the county's population has grown from 606,024 to 713,335 residents , making it one of the fastest-growing in the state, ranking third in overall population after King and...
, where 348 collisions occurred between 2002 and 2009, 120 causing injuries. At North High Rock Road, there will be a new left turn lane installed and the rest of the route will have guard rails, rumble strips, updated signage
Signage
Signage is any kind of visual graphics created to display information to a particular audience. This is typically manifested in the form of wayfinding information in places such as streets or inside/outside of buildings.-History:...
, pavement markings
Road surface marking
Road surface marking is any kind of device or material that is used on a road surface in order to convey official information. They can also be applied in other facilities used by vehicles to mark parking spaces or designate areas for other uses....
and new lighting. The project will be advertised to contractors in November 2009 and the construction is set to begin in spring 2010.
Major intersections
| County | Location | Mile | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King King County, Washington King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States.... |
Fall City Fall City, Washington Fall City is a census-designated place in King County, Washington, United States. Located 26 miles east of Seattle, the community lies along the Snoqualmie River. The population was 1,993 at the 2010 census... |
0.00 | Southern terminus | |
| Snohomish Snohomish County, Washington Snohomish County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after the Snohomish tribe. Since 2000, the county's population has grown from 606,024 to 713,335 residents , making it one of the fastest-growing in the state, ranking third in overall population after King and... |
Monroe Monroe, Washington Monroe is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population as of 17,304 at the 2010 census.-History:The history of Monroe is intertwined with that of the Great Northern Railway which pushed over the Cascade Range at Stevens Pass and worked its way down the Skykomish River... |
24.26 | Northern terminus |