Utility work near Tacoma General Hospital continues. Access open to hospitals, medical centers and the emergency department.

Crews continue installing utilities underground on MLK Jr. Way near Tacoma General Hospital. Access is open to hospitals, medical centers and the emergency department. MLK Jr. Way is open to northbound traffic from 6th Avenue to Division Avenue. To access the Emergency Department, follow MLK Jr. Way north to 5th St. Please allow extra time to arrive to your appointment.

Crews continue to install track on Stadium Way near I-705 and near Stadium High School, on Division Avenue between Yakima Avenue and J Street, and on Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Hilltop. The contractor plans to move the track installation south on MLK Jr. Way to the area between S. 11th St. and S. 15th St. either late this week or early next week. In addition, crews are installing stormwater pipes and structures on S. 8th Street.

In the Stadium District, N. 1st Street is open to two-way traffic. Please stop by N. 1st St. to see the tracks in the street and shop Stadium!

Looking ahead, the contractor plans to open the I-705 ramps as soon as Monday, July 27. When the I-705 ramps open, large trucks will be detoured from the I-705 off-ramp to Commerce St. This truck detour will be in place during construction on Stadium Way in front of Stadium High School.

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 well-being 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 on I-705 ramps, Stadium Way, Commerce Street,  Division Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr. Way, S. 5th Street, S. 8th Street,  S. 10th Street, S. 11th Street, and S. 17th Street. 

When

Week of July 20 

Where

• Stadium Way/N. E St./N. 1st St. from north of Division Avenue to Tacoma Avenue – street closure. Crews continue construction in front of Stadium High School, and this work will last until late-August. During this time, Stadium Way/N. E Street/N. 1st Street from just north of Division Avenue to Tacoma Avenue is completely closed. Residents can access parking at condos and apartments on Stadium Way. Parking will not be available on the street. 
  
  To access the Stadium District from I-705, please exit I-705 from the City Center or S. 21st St/S.R. 509 exits. Otherwise, the detour from I-705 will be Schuster Parkway to McCarver Street in Old Town. Detour routes to and from downtown include Tacoma Ave., Broadway and St. Helens.
• I-705 ramps at Stadium Way – ramps closure. The I-705 on-ramp and off-ramp are closed at Stadium Way for track installation. This work includes installing underground electrical vaults, removing asphalt, moving rail into place, pouring concrete around the rail, and paving. Please exit I-705 at an earlier exit, such as the City Center or S. 21st St/S.R. 509 exits. Otherwise, the detour is Schuster Parkway to McCarver Street in Old Town. The I-705 ramps closure will last until about July 27. Please allow extra time to reach your destination.
• Stadium Way from S. 4th Street to I-705 – street closure; use detours. Stadium Way is closed to thru-traffic from S. 4th Street to the I-705 as crews install track on Stadium Way near I-705. Lanes are open for residents to access parking garages on Stadium Way, but there is no access to I-705. Stadium Way is open northbound from S. 4th St. to Tacoma 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. 
• Commerce Street between S. 7th Street and I-705 – street closure. Commerce Street is closed in both directions between S. 7th Street and I-705, as crews install track on Commerce Street/Stadium Way near I-705. To access Commerce Street between S. 9th St. and S. 7th St., please take the Center City exit, or follow the detour north on Stadium Way to Tacoma Ave., Broadway or St. Helens. 
• Division Avenue between Yakima Avenue and J Street – lane restriction and street closure. Crews continue the track installation process on Division Avenue from Yakima Avenue to J Street, including excavating across I Street. N. I Street is closed for about three to four weeks. The bus detour route is on N. 2nd St. between I Street and Yakima Ave. For buses to make the turn on N. 2nd St and for visibility, there is no parking on N. 2nd St. near the intersections. In mid-August, the contractor will install underground utilities on N. 2nd St. In the meantime, utility structures are stored near the Tacoma Power substation on N. 2nd St. 
• Martin Luther King Jr. Way from Baker driveway to S. 5th St – street closure. Crews continue to install underground utilities on the west side of Martin Luther King Jr. Way from the Baker driveway to 6th Avenue. MLK Jr. Way is open to northbound traffic from 6th Avenue to Division Avenue. Later this week, crews will work in the 5th St. intersection, closing  S. 5th St. west of MLK Jr. Way. Access to the emergency department on 5th St. will remain open. Please allow extra time to arrive to your appointment.
  
  To access the Emergency Department, follow MLK Jr. Way north to 5th St. and down the 5th St. hill. Access is open to hospitals and medical centers on MLK Jr. Way. Follow Division Avenue and go south on MLK Jr. Way to the Baker Center. 
• Martin Luther King Jr. Way at S. 8th Street – lane closure and street closure. Crews are installing stormwater pipes and structures underground on S. 8th St. on either side of Martin Luther King Jr. Way and in the intersection. The work in this area is expected to take about three weeks. Martin Luther King Jr. Way will be closed to northbound traffic from S. 9th St. to S. 7th St. In addition, this week, S. 8th St. will be closed east of MLK Jr. Way to the alley. Please follow the detour routes on J St. After completing the stormwater work near the L St. roundabout, crews plan to work on the traction power substation located on on S. 8th St. west of MLK Jr. Way near the alley.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 9th St. to Earnest Brazill Street – northbound lane closure and intersection closure. Crews will continue installing track on the east side Luther King Jr. Way from S. 10th Street to Earnest Brazill Street. MLK Jr. Way is closed to northbound traffic between S. 9th St. and Earnest Brazill St. In addition, S. 10th St. and S. 11th St. are closed on the east side of MLK Jr. Way to the alleys. Please follow the detour on S. J St. 
  
  The contractor plans to move the track installation process south on MLK Jr. Way from S. 11th St. to S. 15th St. either late this week or early next week. When this happens, MLK Jr. Way will open to two-way traffic between S. 9th St. and S. 11th St. Some paving still needs to be done in this area before parking can resume on the street. In addition, S. 10th St. and S. 11th St. will open east of MLK Jr. Way, and then Earnest Brazill St. will close east of MLK Jr. Way to the alley.

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.