Rail welding begins on Division Avenue near Wright Park this week

The contractor will start welding rail on Division Avenue near I Street and Wright Park this week. The welding operation will look like an assembly line as the rail moves off the pile through polishing, welding, grinding, and inspection. Five rail segments will be welded together to create a 195 ft. long welded string of rail. Then, the welded rail will be stored on Division Avenue near S. G Street for track installation in early 2020. 

On Stadium Way, crews will start to install track on the east side of Stadium Way just north of Division Avenue. From 4th Street to the 705 onramp, the contractor continues to install track on the west side of Stadium Way. On N. 1st St., crews will pothole and then install foundations for Link power poles between Division Avenue and Tacoma Avenue. 

In Hilltop, crews continue to work on the water line on Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 11th Street to S. 9th Street, and do utility work in the S. 14th St. intersection. 

Looking ahead, crews plan to work in the Division Avenue and I St. intersection during the weekend of November 16. After completing rail welding on Division Avenue, the contractor plans to do rail welding on Martin Luther King Jr. Way in between 18th Street and 16th Street, as early as November 18.

What

Construction and traffic restrictions on Martin Luther King Jr. Way, S. 14th Street, Division Avenue, N. 1st Street, S. 4th Street, and Stadium Way 

When

Week of Nov. 4

Where

• Division Avenue from I Street to Yakima Avenue – lane restriction. The contractor is welding the rail segments on Division Avenue near Wright Park. Rail welding on Division Ave is expected to take two weeks. After the welding is completed, the longer rail strands will be stored on Division Avenue near S. G Street (also on the Wright Park side of the street). Two-way traffic will be maintained on Division Ave. The rail stored on Division Avenue will be installed on N. 1st Street and Division Avenue in early 2020.
• Division Avenue from J Street to K Street – lane closure. Division Avenue is closed to westbound traffic from J St. to Martin Luther King Jr. Way to install utilities underground. 
• N. 1st Street from Division Avenue to Tacoma Avenue – lane restrictions. The contractor is potholing on N. 1st Street between Division and Tacoma Ave. Two-way traffic is maintained on N. 1st Street. When potholing is completed, crews will build the foundations for Link power poles in this area.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 11th Street to S. 9th Street – lane restrictions and street closure. The contractor is installing a water line on the east side of Martin Luther King Jr. Way between S. 11th St. to 9th St., starting at S. 11th St. and working north. As the work progresses to S. 10th St, crews will close S. 10th Street on the east side of MLK Jr. Way for about a half block to the alley. Two-way traffic will be maintained on MLK Jr. Way. 
• Martin Luther King Jr. Way between S. 13th to 15th Street – northbound lane closure. Crews are doing utility work at the intersection of 14th St. and MLK Jr. Way. The northbound lane of MLK Jr. Way will be closed from S. 15th St. to S. 13th St. In addition, S. 14th Street will be closed in both directions for about a half-block to the alleys. The work in this section is expected to take about three weeks.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 3rd St. to S. 5th St. – lane restrictions. Crews are installing underground utilities on the west side of MLK Jr. Way from S. 3rd St. to S. 5th St. near Jackson Hall and the Baker Center. Two-way traffic is maintained on MLK Jr. Way. Access to the hospitals and medical centers is open. To access Jackson Hall, please enter through the Jackson Hall parking garage or take the pedestrian tunnel from Tacoma General Hospital. Flaggers will assist pedestrians. Please allow extra time to get to your appointment.
• S. 4th St. between Broadway and Stadium Way – closed. Currently, S. 4th St. is closed between Broadway and Stadium Way. Crews will work on a water line on S. 4th St which is partially located in the sidewalk. Portions of the sidewalk will be closed. 
• Stadium Way from Broadway to the 705 onramp -- southbound lane closure; use detours. Crews will start to install track on the east side of Stadium Way just north of Division Avenue, as early as Oct. 29. In this section of Stadium Way, people will drive northbound on the lane with the newly installed track. Stadium Way is closed to southbound traffic from Broadway to the 705 onramp. Please follow detour routes on St. Helens, Tacoma Avenue and Broadway, and consider alternate routes to access downtown and/or the 705. Stadium Way continues to be open northbound from the 705 to Tacoma Avenue with left turns at S. 4th St. and Division Ave. Commerce St. also is open to two-way traffic. To access parking garages and driveways on Stadium Way, please travel north on Commerce Street or north on Stadium Way from the 705 off-ramp. Crews are installing track and foundations for Link power poles.
• E. 25th Street from McKinley to J St – eastbound closure. E. 25th Street will be closed to eastbound traffic from McKinley to J St. for about one week. Crews will offload precast panels at Sound Transit’s expanded Operations and Maintenance Facility. 25th Street will be open to two-way traffic during nonworking hours.

More

• Driveway and pedestrian access is maintained, although some sidewalks and crosswalks will be temporarily closed. Pedestrian detours will be in place.
• Construction noise related to replacing the underground utilities.
• 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.