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

Installing Link power poles on Martin Luther King Jr. Way begins on Oct. 5 at night 

Publish Date

Crews will start installing the Link power poles on Martin Luther King Jr. Way between S. 5th St. and S. 16th St. as soon as Monday, October 5. The contractor will install poles on the west side of MLK Jr. Way starting at S. 5th St. going south to S. 16th St. and then on the east side from S. 16th St. north to S. 5th St. The poles will be installed where the foundations are located (the wood boxes). The contractor plans to install poles on three blocks per night. To minimize impacts to businesses and conflicts with other construction, crews will install the poles at night in this area (from about 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.). Parking would not be available near the construction, but will open up as crews move down the street. The pole installation in this area will last until about Oct. 14. Then, crews plan to install poles on N. 1st St. on Oct. 15 and continue onto Division Ave. to MLK Jr. Way. Crews plan to install additional poles in the Stadium curve and on Stadium Way as soon as Oct. 21. These poles are part of the electrical system that powers the trains, and later will include electrical wires.

This week, the contractor will resume work on Commerce St., including potholing in the S. 9th St. and Commerce St. intersection on Saturday, Oct 10. Crews will start installing track on MLK Jr. Way between S. 9th St. and S. 8th St. with the electrical raceway and vault work, and will do electrical and signal work at the S. 9th St. and MLK Jr. Way intersection. The contractor will continue installing track on Division Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr. Way between S. 15th St. and S. 18th St., and in the Stadium curve on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 7 am. Crews continue installing utilities on N. 2nd Street and expect to complete utility work at S. 7th St. The contractor continues working on traction power substations on Stadium Way, S. 8th St. and near S. 15th St. On MLK Jr. Way from Division Avenue to 6th Avenue, access is open to hospitals, medical centers and the emergency department. Please allow extra time to reach your appointment – thank you. 

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 Commerce Street, Stadium Way, Division Avenue, N. 2nd Street, N. I Street, N. K Street, Martin Luther King Jr. Way, S. 5th Street, S. 7th Street, S. 8th Street, S. 9th Street, S. 16th Street, S. 17th Street, and S. 18th Street.

When

Week of October 5

Where

  • Commerce Street from S. 9th Street to I-705 – northbound lane closure. Crews will do potholing and then install the foundations for Link power poles on Commerce Street in between S. 9th St. and I-705. The contractor will do potholing in the S. 9th St. and Commerce St. intersection on Saturday, Oct. 10 starting at 9 a.m. The northbound lane on Commerce St. is closed from the S. 9th Street to I-705. 
  • 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.  The contractor will install track on both sides of the street near Stadium High School. The contractor may work on Saturday, Oct. 10, starting at 9 a.m. Crews recently installed some Link power poles in the Stadium curve, and will return in November to install additional poles. Detour routes to and from downtown include Tacoma Ave., Broadway and St. Helens.
  • Stadium Way from Division Ave. to S. 4th St. – southbound lane closure. Crews are working on the 4th St. station and traction power substation along Stadium Way. Crews recently installed some Link power poles along Stadium Way and will return in November to install additional poles. Stadium Way is closed to southbound traffic from Division Ave. to S. 4th St, and 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. 
  • N. 2nd Street between N. I St. and the alley – street closure to the alley. Crews will install stormwater and water utilities on N. 2nd St. Some equipment may be stored on N. I St. in between Division Ave. and N. 2nd St. This week, crews are working between N. I St. and the alley. This utility work is expected to take three to four weeks. When completed, the contractor plans to install the concrete pad for the traction power substation located near TPU’s existing power station on N. 2nd St. and N. I St.
  • Division Avenue between J Street and N. K Street/Martin Luther King Jr. Way – lane closure and street closure. Crews continue installing track on Division Avenue from J Street to N. K St./Martin Luther King Jr. Way. Division Ave is closed to westbound traffic from J St. to just west of N. K St., and N. K St. is closed at Division Ave. Please follow detours on I St., N. 3rd St., 6th Avenue, and MLK Jr. Way. This week crews are excavating and will begin installing curved rail in the Division Ave. and MLK Jr. Way intersection. This work closes MLK Jr. Way in both directions between Division Ave. and S. 3rd St. At the same time, N. K St. is open to northbound traffic. Please access Kaiser Permanente’s driveway and parking garage from S. 3rd St. S. 3rd St. is open to two-way traffic between S. J St. and Kaiser Permanente’s driveway.
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way from Division Avenue to 6th Avenue – street closure and southbound lane closure. Crews are installing track on the west side of Martin Luther King Jr Way going south from Division Ave. to 6th Avenue. MLK Jr. Way is open to northbound traffic between 6th Ave. and S. 3rd St., and closed to southbound traffic from Division Ave. to 6th Ave. In addition, S. 5th St. is closed just west of MLK Jr. Way. Please access Kaiser Permanente from S. 3rd St. S. 3rd St. is open to two-way traffic between S. J St. and Kaiser’s driveway. 

    To access the emergency department, go north on MLK Jr. Way to S. 5th St. To access the Baker Center, follow S. L St. To access the Jackson garage, travel north on MLK Jr. Way. The detour route is S. J St. Access is open to hospitals, medical centers, and the emergency department. Please allow a little extra time to reach your appointment.
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way near S. 7th Street – southbound lane closure and intersection closure. Crews are installing stormwater and water pipes and structures in the S. 7th St. and MLK Jr. Way intersection, working on one side of the street at a time. MLK Jr. Way will be closed to southbound traffic near S. 7th St., and S. 7th St. will be closed on one side of MLK Jr. Way at a time to the alley. This utility work is expected to be completed this week. 
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 9th Street to S. 8th Street – southbound lane closure. Crews will start the track installation process, jumping over S. 7th St. to S. 9th St., and working from S. 9th St. north to S. 8th St. This week, the contractor will install the raceway and electrical vaults in between S. 9th St. to just south of S. 8th St. The southbound lane on MLK Jr. Way will be closed between S. 8th St. and S. 9th St. In addition, crews will work on signals and lighting at the intersection of S. 9th St. and MLK Jr. Way, working at one corner at a time. Please follow the detour route on S. J St.
  • S. 8th Street from Martin Luther King Jr. Way to the alley – eastbound lane closure. Crews are installing the concrete pad for the traction power substation in the City right-of-way on S. 8th St. west of MLK Jr. Way near the alley. S. 8th St. is closed to eastbound traffic from MLK Jr. Way to the alley. After this work is completed, the contractor will install curb and gutter on S. 8th St. as well as pedestrian ramps near the L St. roundabout. 
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 15th St. to S. 18th St. – northbound lane closure and intersection closures. Crews recently moved the track installation work to the east side Luther King Jr. Way from S. 15th St. to S. 18th St. The contractor will be excavating and then bringing the rail into place. Martin Luther King Jr. Way is closed to northbound traffic from S. 18th St. to S. 15th St. In addition, S. 16th St., S. 17th St., and S. 18th St. are closed east of MLK Jr. Way to the alley. 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 for MLK Way between S 5th and S 16th St Link Power pole installation, Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension
Photo of construction worker Installing a Blue pole at Stadium HS, Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension