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

Paving on MLK Jr. Way near Tacoma General on Jan 22. Access the Emergency Department from 6th Avenue to MLK Jr. Way

Publish Date

As part of the track installation, crews will pave Martin Luther King Jr. Way near Tacoma General Hospital on Friday, January 22. To access the Emergency Department on Jan. 22, please follow S. J St. to 6th Avenue and north on Martin Luther King Jr. Way to 5th St. Enter on 5th St. down the hill and exit through the alley to 6th Ave. Please allow extra time to reach your destination – thank you. Crews plan to work in this area on Saturday, Jan. 23 starting at 7 a.m., and will open the 6th Avenue intersection on Jan. 25.

This week, crews will start installing signals and lighting at the MLK Jr. Way and S. 11th St. intersection. The contractor continues to install track on Division Avenue from Yakima Avenue to I Street as well as a sewer line on Commerce St. Crews are working on the raceway on E. 25th St. and plan to open E. 25th St. by the end of this week. Crews continue surveying fiber along the Tacoma Link route at night.  

Looking ahead, crews plan to continue track installation on the east side of Martin Luther King Jr. Way from 6th Avenue to S. 9th St. as soon as Jan. 27. 

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, N. 1st Street, Division Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr. Way, 6th Avenue, S. 11th Street, S. 17th Street, and E. 25th Street.

When

Week of January 18

Where

  • Commerce Street from S. 9th Street to the crosswalk north of the Theater District Station – street closure during the day; southbound closure at night. Crews are installing a sewer line on Commerce St. from S. 9th St. to the crosswalk just north of the Theater District Station. During working hours, Commerce St. is closed in both directions between S. 9th St. and the crosswalk north of the Theater District Station. During non-working hours, Commerce St. is open to northbound traffic. Please follow the detour route on S. 7th St., S. 9th St., and Pacific Ave. Access will be open to the parking garages and driveways on Commerce St. If a driveway is temporarily closed for construction, the contractor will provide alternate access or parking.
  • Stadium Way from Division Ave. to S. 4th Street – lane restrictions. Crews are working on the traction power substation along Stadium Way. The traffic lane closest to this work is closed to allow truck access to this site. Two-way traffic will be maintained on Stadium Way. 
  • Division Avenue from Yakima Avenue to I Street – lane closures. Crews are installing track on Division Avenue from Yakima Avenue to I Street near Wright Park. The contractor also is installing track on the section of N. 1st St. near the triangle. During this work, Division Ave. will be closed in both directions near the triangle. Division Ave will be closed to eastbound traffic from I St. to S. G St., and closed to westbound traffic near the triangle. Please follow the detour on N. 1st St., Division Ave., S. I St., 6th Ave, and St. Helens – thank you. To access Kaiser Permanente and Tacoma General from Stadium Way, continue on Stadium Way to N. 1st St. to Division Ave. 
  • N. 1st Street from G St. to Yakima Ave – lane closure. As part of the track installation on Division Avenue, crews also will install the curved rail from Division Ave. to N. 1st St. N. 1st St. will be closed to northbound traffic near the triangle. The slip lane from Division Avenue to N. 1st St. also may close temporarily.
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 7th St. to Jackson Hall – northbound lane closure. Crews are installing track on the east side of Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 7th St. to Jackson Hall, and MLK Jr. Way is closed to northbound traffic from S. 7th St. to Jackson Hall. The contractor will pave near Tacoma General Hospital on Friday, Jan. 22. During the paving on Jan. 22, access the emergency department from S. J St. to 6th Ave. and north on MLK Jr. Way to 5th St. At all other times, access the emergency department on MLK Jr. Way south from Division Avenue and turn left at 5th St. The detour route is S. J St. Please allow extra time to reach your destination – thank you. The contractor plans to open this section of MLK Jr. Way by Jan. 27. Crews plan to work in this area on Saturday, Jan. 23 starting at 7 a.m.
  • 6th Avenue east of MLK Jr. Way – intersection closure to the alley. Crews are installing track on the east side of MLK Jr. Way across 6th Avenue, closing 6th Avenue on the east side of MLK Jr. Way to the alley. Please follow the detour route: S. 9th St., S. J St., Division Ave., and Sprague Ave. The contractor plans to open 6th Avenue by Jan 25.
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way and S. 11th St. intersection – lane restrictions. Crews are installing lighting and signals at the MLK Jr. Way and S. 11th St. intersection, and will work on one corner at a time. The contractor will continue signals work at each intersection along MLK Jr. Way, going south from S. 11th St. block-by-block to S. 19th St. This work is expected to take 3-4 days at each intersection.
  • S. 17th Street at Martin Luther King Jr. Way—intersection closure.  The rail that will be installed in the street is stored on the east side of MLK Jr. Way across S. 17th St. The S. 17th St. and MLK Jr. Way intersection is closed until this rail is installed.
  • East 25th Street from E. G St. to E. J St. – eastbound lane closure. Crews are installing the underground electrical raceway on E. 25th St. near the Operations and Maintenance Facility, closing E. 25th St. to eastbound traffic between E. G St. and E. J St. Please follow the detour on Puyallup Avenue. The contractor plans to open E. 25th St. to two-way traffic by the end of this week.

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 6th Ave Track Installation, Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension