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

Track installation on Martin Luther King Jr. Way moves to area between S. 9th St. and 6th Ave this week

Publish Date

Crews will complete the track installation on Martin Luther King Jr. Way near Tacoma General this week, and then will move the track installation on MLK Jr. Way to the area between S. 9th St and 6th Ave. By the end of the day today, 6th Avenue will open. Then, MLK Jr. Way from 6th Avenue north to Jackson Hall will open either tonight or by tomorrow, Jan 26. After that, crews will close MLK Jr. Way to northbound traffic from S. 9th St. to 6th Ave. Please follow the detour on S. J St. This track on the east side of MLK Jr. Way from 6th Ave. to S. 9th St. is the last track to be installed on Martin Luther King Jr. Way!

On Division Avenue, crews will close Division Avenue in both directions from S. G St. to Yakima Ave to install track and build a new triangle at Division Ave/N. 1st St./Yakima Ave. In addition, the slip lane will be closed from Division Ave to N. 1st St. Please follow the detour on N. 1st St., S. I St., 6th Ave., and St. Helens.

In other areas, crews will continue installing signals and lighting at the intersections along MLK Jr. Way and will move to the Earnest Brazill St. intersection this week. The contractor continues to install a sewer line on Commerce St., and will start installing track on E. 25th St. near the Operations and Maintenance Facility.

Looking ahead, crews plan to remove a section of the existing platform at the Theater District Station on Commerce Street and install foundations for Link power poles in this area. This work would happen at night in early 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 Commerce Street, N. 1st Street, Division Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr. Way, 6th Avenue, S. 7th Street, S. 8th Street, S. 11th Street, Earnest Brazill Street, S. 17th Street, and E. 25th Street

When

Week of January 25

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 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. will be closed in both directions from S. G St. to Yakima Ave. Starting as soon as Tuesday, Jan. 26, the slip lane from Division Ave. to N. 1st St. will be 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. 
  • 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 will be 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. 
  • N. 1st Street from G St. to Yakima Ave – lane closure. As part of the track installation on Division Avenue, crews will install the curved rail from Division Ave. to N. 1st St. N. 1st St. will be closed to northbound traffic near the triangle. Starting as soon as Tuesday, January 26, the slip from Division Avenue to N. 1st St. will be closed so crews can build the new triangle at Division Ave./N. 1st St./Yakima Ave. 
  • 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 is completing the work in this area and plans to open MLK Jr. Way from 6th Avenue to Jackson Hall by the end of the day on Tuesday, Jan 26. To access  the hospitals, medical centers and emergency departments, please follow MLK Jr. Way south from Division Avenue. The detour route is S. J St. Please allow extra time to reach your destination – thank you. 
  • 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 at the end of the day on Monday, Jan 25.
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 9th Street to 6th Avenue – northbound lane closure. Crews continue installing track on the east side of Martin Luther King Jr. Way and will move to the area from 6th Ave. to S. 9th St. as soon as January 26. Then, crews will extend the work zone to install track across S. 9th St., starting about Feb. 5. First, MLK Jr. Way will be closed northbound from S. 9th St. to 6th Ave., and S. 7th St. and S. 8th St. will be closed east of MLK Jr. Way to the alleys. Then, in order to install track across S. 9th St., the contractor will close MLK Jr. Way for one more block – from S. 10th St. to 6th Ave, and will also close S. 9th St. east of MLK Jr. Way to the alley. Please follow the detour on S. J St. To minimize traffic impacts, the contractor will pull rail into place at about 5 a.m. Crews may work on Saturdays starting at 7 a.m.
  • 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. Crews plan to start signal work at the MLK Jr. Way and Earnest Brazill St. intersection on Tuesday, Jan 26.
  • 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 will start installing track on E. 25th St. near the Operations and Maintenance Facility, as soon as Wednesday, Jan 27.  E. 25th St. is closed to eastbound traffic between E. G St. 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 South 6th Street to South 9th Street Track Installation, Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension
Construction map for Division Ave at N Yakima Ave closure, Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension