Link Light Rail Construction to Close Major Downtown Tacoma Intersection to Cross Traffic; 12 Days is Better than 6-to-8 Weeks

The intersection of Pacific Avenue and 21st Street in downtown Tacoma will be closed to eastbound and westbound traffic for 12 days beginning 6 p.m. this Friday. The closure will allow Sound Transit construction crews to lay a key section of track for Tacoma's Link light rail system. The closure, which is scheduled to end July 25, also will shut down the ramps to Interstate 705 and Highway 509. Pacific Avenue will remain open to northbound and southbound traffic.

Local businesses along Pacific Avenue remain open during construction. Signs and flaggers will guide motorists and pedestrians to the most convenient detour routes to help them to their destinations. Business owners and residents of the area were asked if they would prefer a six-to-eight week construction schedule during regular work hours or a more intensive round-the-clock, twelve-day schedule. The consensus was to get the work done as quickly as possible.

Motorists will see signs along the freeway and Highway 509 alerting them to the fact they will be encountering detours. For more information, call the Tacoma Link Hotline at (253) 779-LINK (5465) or go to www.soundtransit.org and follow the Link links to Tacoma Link, or go directly to www.soundtransit.org/linkrail/tacoma/contstruct/lnktacconstruction.htm

WHAT: Detours due to Tacoma Link construction

WHERE: Pacific Avenue and 21st Street

WHEN: Beginning 6 P.M, Friday July 12, 2002 and running approximately 12 days

# # #

Sound Transit plans, builds and operates regional transit systems and services to improve mobility for Central Puget Sound.