Pasco’s Sylvester Street pedestrian overpass reaches 90% design milestone

Pasco’s planned pedestrian and bicycle overpass on Sylvester Street has reached the 90% design milestone, moving the project closer to construction while the city continues seeking full construction funding.

The City of Pasco’s project page lists 90% design as complete in July 2026 and identifies spring 2027 as the target for construction to begin. That start remains dependent on additional grant funding. The milestone does not mean construction is authorized, fully funded or guaranteed to begin on that schedule.

A separated crossing over US 395

The proposed overpass would cross US 395 along West Sylvester Street between Road 32 and North 28th Avenue. The city says the current bridge is too narrow for pedestrians and cyclists to cross comfortably alongside motorized traffic, making a separate crossing a safety and accessibility improvement.

The planned work includes a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge, a 12-foot-wide shared-use path on the east and west approaches, sidewalks, trail connections and ADA improvements at the Road 32 and North 28th Avenue intersections. Existing sidewalks east of the new bridge also would be upgraded.

For people walking, bicycling or using mobility devices, the project is intended to provide a more separated and accessible route across US 395 than the existing crossing.

Design progress is not full funding

A 90% design milestone indicates that engineering has advanced substantially. It is not the same as a completed construction project, a signed construction contract or a final authorization to proceed.

Pasco’s 2026-2031 Transportation Improvement Program lists the Sylvester Street overpass with a pedestrian and bicyclist overpass, sidewalks, ADA curb ramps and a shared-use path. The program shows $340,660 in prior-year funding, $659,340 in 2026 funding and $3,229,340 in 2027 funding. The city’s project page separately states that full construction funding has not yet been secured and that staff are exploring additional grant opportunities.

That funding condition controls the spring 2027 target. If the remaining money is secured, construction could begin in spring 2027. If not, the schedule could change.

Drivers should expect possible temporary impacts

If the project advances into construction, the city expects temporary traffic effects. Bridge installation is expected to require intermittent nighttime full closures of US 395 for about two hours in the early morning.

The project page also identifies possible shoulder and temporary ramp closures on US 395, along with single-lane closures on Sylvester Street. Those are anticipated construction effects, not a final closure calendar. The city has not published exact closure dates in the project information reviewed for this article.

Any closures or lane restrictions could affect highway commuters, nearby residents and people using Sylvester Street. Future announcements about funding, contracting, traffic control and closure dates will determine when travelers need to change routes or allow extra time.

From 60% design in June to 90% in July

The July milestone represents a material design advance from the status described in independent local coverage published June 7, 2026. The Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business reported that the project was 60% designed and that Pasco was still seeking funding while pursuing grant opportunities for work in 2027.

The project is now farther along in design, but the financial condition remains central. For Pasco residents, the next meaningful developments are additional grant announcements, confirmation of the remaining funding and, if the project moves ahead, detailed traffic-control plans for the US 395 crossing.

Sources

• City of Pasco: Sylvester Street Overpass Pedestrian/Bicycle Access
• Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business: Learn about plans for Pasco’s Sylvester Street pedestrian, bike overpass