Project updates
Learn about where and when construction is happening throughout the ST district.

6th Avenue closes west of MLK Jr. Way for utility work during the weekend of August 15 and 16 

Publish Date

Crews will install stormwater utilities in the intersection of 6th Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Way during the weekend of August 15 and 16, starting at 7 a.m. This work will close 6th Avenue west of MLK Jr. Way to the alley. MLK Jr. Way will continue to be open to northbound traffic from 6th Avenue to Division Avenue. Access is open to hospitals, medical centers and the emergency department.

In Hilltop, the contractor continues to install track on the east side of Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 9th Street going south. MLK Jr. Way between S. 9th  St. and S. 11th St. is scheduled to open on Aug. 12. Crews will continue the track installation process from S. 11th St. to S. 15th St. In addition, the contractor will start installing utilities in the S. 9th St. and MLK Jr. Way as soon as Aug. 13. Crews continue to install utilities on S. 8th St. west of MLK Jr. Way. 

On Division Avenue, crews continue to install track west of J St. The contractor plans to open the section of Division Ave. between I St. and Yakima on Aug. 14. Currently, work is on hold on Stadium Way in front of Stadium High School. 

Looking ahead, the contractor plans to install track on Division Avenue to MLK Jr. Way starting the week of Aug. 17. In addition, Stadium Way will be open to northbound traffic only from I-705 to S. 4th St. during the week of Aug. 17.

COVID-19. The health and safety of all workers on Sound Transit’s construction sites are of utmost importance to us. Our contractors have primary responsibility for their wellbeing while working on our projects.  Sound Transit is actively working with the contractors and construction management teams on all our projects to assure that public health guidelines are being followed. 

What

Construction and traffic restrictions at Stadium Way, Division Avenue, N. 2nd Street, N. J Street, Martin Luther King Jr. Way, S. 5th Street, 6th Avenue, S. 8th Street, S. 9th Street, Earnest Brazill Street, S. 13th Street, and S. 17th Street. 

When

Week of August 10 

Where

  • Stadium Way/N. E St./N. 1st St. from north of Division Avenue to Broadway – street closure. Stadium Way/N. E Street/N. 1st Street is completely closed from just north of Division Avenue to Broadway.  Currently, the work is temporarily on hold, while the project team considers a new design for the Stadium curve. Detour routes to and from downtown include Tacoma Ave., Broadway and St. Helens.
  • Stadium Way from Division Ave. to S. 4th Street – southbound lane closure. Crews are working on the 4th St. station and traction power substation along Stadium Way; therefore, Stadium Way is closed to southbound traffic from Division Ave. to S. 4th St. Stadium Way is open northbound from I-705 to Division Avenue with turns at S. 4th St. and Division Ave. Please follow detour routes on Tacoma Avenue, St. Helens and Broadway, and consider alternate routes to access downtown and/or I-705. Looking ahead, Stadium Way southbound from 4th St. to the 705 will be closed for the week of August 17 so crews can weld the rail.
  • Division Avenue between Yakima Avenue and J Street – lane restriction and street closure. Crews continue installing track on Division Avenue from Yakima Avenue through J Street. Crews are paving on Division Avenue between I St. and Yakima Ave. and plan to open that section on Friday, Aug. 14. Currently, N. J Street and N. 2nd Street are closed at Division Avenue. We anticipate that N. J St. will open on Aug. 19. Access to Tacoma Java and Blush Beauty Bar is open. Two-way traffic is maintained on Division Avenue. Please follow detours on I St., N. 3rd St., 6th Avenue, and MLK Jr. Way. 
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way from Baker driveway to S. 5th St – street closure. Crews continue to install underground utilities on the west side of Martin Luther King Jr. Way from the Baker driveway to 6th Avenue. MLK Jr. Way is open to northbound traffic from 6th Avenue to Division Avenue. Crews are working in the 5th St. intersection, closing S. 5th St. west of MLK Jr. Way. In addition, crews are installing foundations for Link power poles along MLK Jr. Way. Access to the emergency department on 5th St. is open. Please allow extra time to arrive to your appointment. The 5th St. intersection will open by the end of this week before work begins in the 6th Avenue and MLK Jr. Way 

    To access the Emergency Department, follow MLK Jr. Way north to 5th St. and down the 5th St. hill. Access is open to hospitals and medical centers on MLK Jr. Way. Follow Division Avenue and go south on MLK Jr. Way to the Baker Center. 
  • 6th Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Way – intersection closure during weekend of August 15 and 16. Crews will install stormwater pipes and structures in the Martin Luther King Jr. Way and 6th Avenue intersection during the weekend of August 15 and 16. 6th Avenue will be closed west of MLK Jr. Way to the alley. MLK Jr. Way will be closed southbound from S. 5th St. through 6th Avenue. Please follow the detours on Division Avenue, S. J Street, Sprague Avenue and S. 9th Street. The contractor obtained a noise variance from the City of Tacoma to start this work at 7 a.m. on the weekend. 
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way and S. 8th Street near the S. L St. roundabout – lane closure and street closure. Crews are installing stormwater pipes and structures underground on S. 8th St. on the west side of Martin Luther King Jr. Way and in the L St. roundabout. Martin Luther King Jr. Way is closed to northbound traffic from S. 9th St. to S. 7th St. Please follow the detour routes on J St. After completing the stormwater work near the L St. roundabout, crews plan to work on the traction power substation located on S. 8th St. west of MLK Jr. Way near the alley.
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way and S. 9th Street intersection – lane closures. Crews will continue installing stormwater pipes and structures underground, and will start this work in the Martin Luther King Jr. Way and S. 9th St. intersection as soon as Aug. 13.  The contractor will work at one corner of the intersection at a time, ultimately working in all four corners in the intersection. The traffic lane will be closed near the one corner, and open in the other areas of the intersection. The contractor will start in the northeast corner of the MLK Jr. Way and S. 9th St. intersection.  
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 9th St. to S. 13th St. – northbound lane closure and intersection closure. Crews will continue installing track on the east side Luther King Jr. Way from S. 11th Street to S. 15th St. As the track installation continues south, the contractor will close S. 13th St. east of MLK Jr. Way to the alley. Crews will pave the east lane on MLK Jr. Way between S. 9th St. and S. 11th St. This section is planned to open on Aug. 12. Then, MLK Jr. Way will be closed to northbound traffic between S. 15th St. and S. 11th St. Please follow the detour on S. J St. 

More

  • Driveway and pedestrian access is maintained, although some sidewalks and crosswalks will be temporarily closed. Pedestrian detours will be in place. 
  • Buses will follow detour routes. Visit PierceTransit.org for information.
  • Construction noise related to replacing the underground utilities and installing track.
  • Large construction equipment or materials may be in the right-of-way.
  • Work will generally take place during the daytime hours unless otherwise noted. Daytime hours during the week are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The contractor usually works less hours.
  • Businesses are open during construction.
  • Plan ahead and allow extra time to reach your destination.
  • Due to inclement weather or unforeseen issues, dates and times are subject to change. 
Construction map of Martin Luther King Jr way from Division Ave to S 7th St