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

Martin Luther King Jr. Way closes northbound between S. 18th St. and S. 16th St. for track installation later this week 

Publish Date

Crews will move the track installation process on Martin Luther King Jr. Way to the area between S. 16th Street and S. 18th Street, as soon as Thursday, October 1. First, crews will finish paving on MLK Jr. Way in between S. 13th St. and S. 16th St., and then open the street in this section, including opening the intersections at S. 13th St., S. 14th St., and S. 15th St. Then, crews will start installing track on the east side of MLK Jr. Way between S. 16th St. and S. 18th St. This work will close MLK Jr. Way northbound from S. 18th St. to S. 16th St., and will close S. 16th St., S.17th St., and S. 18th St. on the east side of MLK Jr. Way to the alley.

In other area, the contractor will continue construction activities (utilities, traction power substation and track installation). Crews will continue installing utilities on S. 7th Street and on N. 2nd Street. Crews also will continue installing track on Division Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr. Way near Kaiser Permanente and Tacoma General, and in the Stadium curve. 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. 

Looking ahead, crews will start installing the Link power poles along the route, beginning on Martin Luther King Jr. Way between S. 5th St. and S. 16th St. as soon as Monday, October 5. 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.). 

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. I Street, N. K Street, Martin Luther King Jr. Way, S. 5th Street, S. 7th Street, S. 8th Street, S. 13th Street, S. 14th Street, S. 15th Street, S. 16th Street, S. 17th Street, and S. 18th Street.

When

Week of September 28 

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.  The contractor will install track on both sides of the street near Stadium High School. The contractor may work on Saturday, Oct. 3, starting at 9 a.m. 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. The contractor is installing the power connection from Broadway to the TPSS 1. 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 will install 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 will last about two-three weeks.
  • 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. This combined work is expected to last until late September/early October.
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way from Earnest Brazill St. to S. 16th St. – northbound lane closure and intersection closures. Crews expect to finish installing track on the east side Luther King Jr. Way from Earnest Brazill St. to S. 16th St., as soon as Thursday, October 1. Then Martin Luther King Jr. Way would open from S. 16th St. to Earnest Brazill St. In addition, S. 13th St., S. 14th St. and S. 15th St. are expected to open later this week. In the meantime, please follow the detour on S. J St. 
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 16th St. to S. 18th St. – northbound lane closure and intersection closures. Crews plan to move the track installation process on the east side of MLK Jr. Way to the area between S. 16th St. and S. 18th St. as soon as Thursday, October 1. MLK Jr. Way would be closed to northbound traffic from S. 18th St. to S. 16th St. In addition, S. 16th St., S. 17th St., and S. 18th St. will be 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 Martin Luther King Jr way from S 16th St to S 19th St closures, Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension