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

Track installation continues on Division Avenue and on Martin Luther King Jr. Way

Publish Date

Crews continue installing track on Division Avenue near Wright Park and also on the east side of Martin Luther King Jr. Way from 6th Avenue to S. 9th Street. Please follow the detours and allow extra time to reach your destination – thank you. The contractor plans to complete the track installation on Division Ave from Yakima Ave to I St. next week, and then move the track installation to the MLK Jr. Way and Division Ave intersection as soon as Feb 18.

In addition, crews will tie-in the Link power poles to the electrical system on MLK Jr. Way, starting at S. 11th St. The contractor will work in two-block sections on the west side of MLK Jr. Way from S. 11th St. to S. 13th St. and continue south to S. 19th St. Two-way traffic will be maintained near this work. On E. 25th St., crews are installing track near the Operations and Maintenance Facility. This work is temporarily stopped while a design issue is resolved. Last week, the contractor pulled the last of the rail from the rail pile at MLK Jr. Way and S. 17th St. to the area on MLK Jr. Way near S. 9th St. Crews then opened S. 17th St. to traffic. 

Looking ahead, the contractor plans to start stormwater work in the Commerce St. and S. 9th St. intersection during the weekend of Feb 19. Crews also plan to start installing track on Commerce St. from south of S. 7th St. to I-705 in late February.  

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 N. 1st Street, Division Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr. Way, S. 7th Street, S. 8th Street, S. 9th Street, and E. 25th Street

When

Week of February 8

Where

  • Division Avenue from S. G St. to Yakima Avenue -- street closure. 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, and will rebuild the triangle. During this work, Division Ave. is closed in both directions from S. G St. to Yakima Ave. In addition, the slip lane from Division Ave. to N. 1st St. is closed. 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. The track installation in this area is expected to be completed in mid-February (about Feb 17).
  • Division Avenue from Yakima Avenue to I Street – eastbound lane closure. Crews are installing track on Division Avenue from Yakima Avenue to I Street near Wright Park. Division Ave is closed to eastbound traffic from I St. to S. G St. (in addition to the full street closure from Yakima Ave. to S. G St). 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. The track installation in this area is expected to be completed in mid-February (about Feb 17).
  • N. 1st Street from N. G St. to Yakima Ave – lane closure. As part of the track installation on Division Avenue, crews are installing the curved rail from Division Ave. to N. 1st St. N. 1st St. is closed to northbound traffic near the triangle. In addition, the slip lane from Division Avenue to N. 1st St. is closed so crews can build the new triangle at Division Ave./N. 1st St./Yakima Ave. 
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 10th Street to 6th Avenue – northbound lane closure. Crews continue installing track on the east side of Martin Luther King Jr. from 6th Ave. to across S. 9th St. MLK Jr. Way is closed northbound from S. 10th St. to 6th Ave. In addition, S. 7th St., S. 8th St., and S. 9th St. are closed from MLK Jr. Way east to the alley. Please follow the detour on S. J St. Crews may work on Saturdays starting at 7 a.m. The contractor plans to do a concrete pour on Tuesday, Feb 9.
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 11th St. to S. 13th St. – lane restrictions. Crews are tying in the existing electrical service to the Link power poles. The contractor will tie-in 3 poles in a two block section. They will start on the west side of MLK Jr. Way from S. 11th St. to S. 13th St., as soon as Tuesday, Feb 9, and work in this area for one to two days. Then, they will move to the area between S. 13th St. and S. 15th St. and continue in two block sections until S. 19th St. Then crews will cross the street and do the same work in two-block sections on the east side of MLK Jr. Way going north to S. 11th St. This initial tie-in work is for the poles in the middle of the block. Crews will return later to work in the intersections. 
  • East 25th Street from McKinley Ave. to E. J St. – eastbound lane closure. Crews started installing track on E. 25th St. near the Operations and Maintenance Facility. Currently, work has temporarily stopped while a design issue is resolved. E. 25th St. is closed to eastbound traffic between McKinley Ave. and E. J St. Please follow the detour on Puyallup Avenue. The contractor plans to work in E. 25th St. for several months, doing track installation and other work.

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 6th st to S 5th St closure, Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension