City and JBLM in early talks about Yelm-based gate, new bridge over river

In efforts to help alleviate Yelm’s long-lasting traffic congestion issues, Mayor Joe DePinto has held very preliminary conversations with Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) about opening a gate location in Yelm and about potentially building a third bridge over the Nisqually River.

During a conversation with the Nisqually Valley News on Monday, June 30, DePinto was very quick to describe the conversations with JBLM as “very preliminary,” but added all options are on the table when it comes to solving Yelm’s traffic issues.

Prior to speaking with the NVN, DePinto wrote on Facebook that the city recently met with 1st Special Forces Group and JBLM Garrison Command, where he brought up the need for another JBLM gate to better serve the service members who call Yelm home.

According to his post, the mayor recently received a followup from the garrison executive officer at JBLM, LTC Wismann, who acknowledged “there is a significant population in Yelm and we should prioritize opening a gate that services (Yelm) community.” He added that the executive officer pointed to a current hiring shortage and a struggle for trained, qualified Department of the Army Security Guards (DASGs).

“It will likely be a few years out, but we will be working together to open a Yelm JBLM gate,” DePinto wrote. “I’m grateful for all our military service members that live here in Yelm, and I’m excited for these new partnership opportunities.”

DePinto later told the NVN that he was contacted in March by Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) about a Yelm-based JBLM gate location, which “planted a seed” in his head.
“It was a quick conversation, but I thought it made a lot of sense. One of my biggest priorities is to reduce traffic in Yelm, so I listen to all sorts of ideas with a very open mind. But I’m also looking at it through a very realistic perspective,” DePinto told the Nisqually Valley News. “Some things are cost prohibitive for a city of our size. That said, adding a JBLM gate sounds like a good idea, and one that could reduce traffic and get military servicemembers who live in Yelm on to base quicker.”

According to the mayor, there have been conversations with JBLM leadership about jointly seeking funds for a new Yelm-based gate. DePinto added there aren’t too many options to where a gate could go, but that there’s potential for one near Southworth Elementary.

“We discussed a little about different gate options, including locations. The most realistic and most feasible would be the one right off the entrance, after the entrance of Southworth Elementary,” DePinto said. “We’re going to discuss more.”

While on the topic of traffic, DePinto noted he’s also had conversations with JBLM about building a third Nisqually River bridge location. He’s unsure where a new location could be, but knows there’s potential for another bridge if there’s support from JBLM. There’s currently a Nisqually River bridge in McKenna on state Route 507, and several on I-5 between Martin Road and Mounts Road.

“I know a lot of people think another bridge over the Nisqually River is needed, and I am one of them. I spoke briefly about the idea with the Chair of the House Transportation Committee just recently over the last weekend,” DePinto said. “I know it’s going to cost a ton. Bridges are expensive and cost hundreds of millions of dollars, if not over a billion dollars — not to mention having to build a new highway. These are very expensive options, but I think the only way something like that happens is if there’s support with JBLM.”

DePinto believes building another Nisqually River bridge could help if there’s a “national security emergency” that requires military attention and reaction from JBLM.

“We talked about serving the region and getting more people around. There could be a national security emergency and a need to get folks to JBLM quicker. If they don’t have access, if both bridges over the Nisqually are inaccessible, how do we get folks to the base? There’s got to be another option,” DePinto said. “I think it’s a good idea. It’s also very grandiose and it would take a lot of time. It would be a lot of work to do.”