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

Track installation moves to Martin Luther King Jr. Way and S. 9th Street this week. S. 9th St. closed west of MLK Jr. Way.

Publish Date

Track installation moves to Martin Luther King Jr. Way and S. 9th Street this week. S. 9th St. closed west of MLK Jr. Way. 

Crews will continue installing track on the west side of Martin Luther King Jr. Way and will move to the S. 9th Street and MLK Jr. Way intersection as soon as Tuesday, Oct. 13. The contractor will continue the track installation process on the west side of MLK Jr. Way going north from S. 9th St. to 6th Avenue. MLK Jr. Way will be closed to southbound traffic from 6th Ave. to S. 9th St., and S. 9th St. will be closed west of MLK Jr. Way to the alley. As crews move north on MLK Jr. Way, S. 8th St. and S. 7th St. will closed on the west side of MLK Jr. Way to the alley. Please follow the detour on S. J St., 6th Ave., Sprague Ave., and S. 11th St. Before crews move to this area, they will open MLK Jr. Way from S. 3rd St. to 6th Avenue to two-way traffic.

Crews are installing the Link power poles on Martin Luther King Jr. Way from 6th Avenue to S. 16th Street, and will move this pole installation work to N. 1st St. later this week. From N. 1st St., crews will install poles on Division Ave. and then on MLK Jr. Way to 6th Ave. The contractor plans to install the poles at night (from about 7 pm to 5 am) on MLK Jr. Way, N. 1st St. and Division Ave.  

The contractor will continue track installation on Division Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Way to S. 3rd St., MLK Jr. Way from S. 15th St. and S. 18th St., and in the Stadium curve. Crews continue potholing and utility work on Commerce St., and utility work on N. 2nd St. The contractor continues working on traction power substations on Stadium Way, S. 8th St. near S. 15th St, and will begin work on the traction power substation on N. 2nd St. soon.

Looking ahead, crews plan to move the track installation work south on MLK Jr. Way, extending to S. 19th St., as soon as next week. In addition, the contractor plans to install additional Link power poles in the Stadium curve and on Stadium Way next week.

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, 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. 9th Street, S. 16th Street, S. 17th Street, and S. 18th Street.

When

Week of October 12

Where

  • Commerce Street from S. 9th Street to I-705 – northbound lane closure. Crews will do potholing and install the foundations for Link power poles on Commerce Street in between S. 9th St. and I-705. In addition, the contractor will start installing a new sewer line  in this area. The northbound lane on Commerce St. is closed from the S. 9th Street to I-705. 
  • 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 is installing track on both sides of the street near Stadium High School. This week, crews plan to grade and pave the street, as well as install poles for pedestrian signals at N. 1st and Broadway. Crews recently installed some Link power poles in the Stadium curve, and will return in late October to install additional poles. 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 traction power substation along Stadium Way. Crews recently installed some Link power poles along Stadium Way and will return in late October to install additional poles. 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. MLK Jr. Way is closed in both directions between Division Ave. and S. 3rd St. Please follow detours on I St., N. 3rd St., 6th Avenue, and MLK Jr. Way. 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. This week, the contractor expects to complete the track work on the west side of MLK Jr. Way from S. 3rd St to 6th Ave., and this part of MLK Jr. Way is expected to open to two-way traffic between S. 3rd St. and 6th Avenue on Oct. 13 or 14 (but could happen late on Oct. 12). In the meantime, 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 from S. 9th Street to 6th Avenue – southbound lane closure. Crews will start the track installation process, work on the west side of Martin Luther King Jr. Way, starting in the S. 9th St. and MLK Jr. Way intersection going north to 6th Avenue. Crews will excavate, place the rail, pour concrete around the rail, and pave. The southbound lane on MLK Jr. Way will be closed between 6th Avenue and S. 9th St. In addition, S. 9th St. will be closed on the west side of MLK Jr. Way to the alley. As crews move north on MLK Jr. Way, S. 8th St. and S. 7th St. will closed on the west side of MLK Jr. Way to the alley. Please follow the detour route on S. J St. Please follow the detour on S. J St., 6th Ave., Sprague Ave., and S. 11th St.
  • 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. 
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 15th St. to S. 18th St. – northbound lane closure and intersection closures. Crews are installing track on the east side of Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 15th St. to S. 18th St. Crews will excavate, bring rail into place, pour concrete around the rail, and pave. Martin Luther King Jr. Way is closed to northbound traffic from S. 18th St. to S. 15th St. In addition, S. 16th St., S. 17th St., and S. 18th St. are 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 and S 9th St Track Installation, Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension