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

Water line work starts on Martin Luther King Jr. Way from 6th Ave. to S. 7th St.

Publish Date

In Hilltop, crews will start working on the water line on Martin Luther King Jr. Way from 6th Ave to S. 7th Street this week. The contractor will also do stormwater work at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Way and S. 16th St. In addition, crews will install foundations for Link power poles on the east side of MLK Jr. Way from 11th St. to 15th St., going one block at a time. 

At the Division Avenue and J Street intersection, crews are working on underground utilities and will install a temporary sewer bypass near J Street and N. 3rd Street. Near Tacoma General Hospital, crews are installing utilities on the west side of Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 3rd St. to S. 5th St. 

On Stadium Way, crews continue to install track and foundations for Link power poles on Stadium Way from Division Avenue to the 705 onramp. 

Looking ahead, the contractor may install foundations for the Link power poles on N. 1st Street and may work on utilities in the Division Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Way intersection in mid-October.

What

Construction and traffic restrictions on Martin Luther King Jr. Way, S. 7th St., S. 16th Street, Division Avenue, S. 4th Street, and Stadium Way 

When

Week of Oct. 7

Where

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way from 6th Ave to 7th Street --  lane restriction. Crews will install a water line on the east side of Martin Luther King Jr. Way from 6th Avenue to S. 11th Street, starting with the section from 6th Ave. to S. 7th St. Two-way traffic is maintained on MLK Jr. Way. S. 7th Street will be closed on the east side of MLK Jr. Way for about a half-block to the alley. The water line work in this section is expected to take about 10 days. When completed, the crew will move the water line work to Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 11th St. to S. 9th St.
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 11th Street to S. 15th Street – lane restrictions. Crews are installing foundations for Link power poles on the east side of Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 11th Street to S. 15th Street, going one block at a time. The work in this section is expected to take about two weeks. Two-way traffic will be maintained on MLK Jr. Way.
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way between S. 15th to 17th Street – southbound lane closure. The southbound lane of MLK Jr. Way is closed from S. 15th St. to S. 17th St. while crews do stormwater work at the intersection of MLK Jr. Way and S. 16th Street. In addition, S. 16th Street is 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.
  • Division Avenue from J Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Way -- lane closure. Division Avenue is closed to westbound traffic from J St. to Martin Luther King Jr. Way to install utilities underground. In addition, the contractor plans to install a temporary sewer bypass pipe near N. 3rd St. and J St. 
  • S 4th Street from Broadway to Stadium Way – closed. S. 4th Street from Broadway to Stadium Way is closed for about three to four weeks while crews install track on Stadium Way. Crews will first remove the pavement on the west side of Stadium Way from S. 4th St. to the 705. While S. 4th St. is closed, the Division Ave. and Stadium Way intersection will be open to two-way traffic. Crews also are installing foundations for Link power poles on Stadium Way. Access to condos/apartments on Stadium Way is open. 
  • Stadium Way from Broadway to the 705 onramp -- southbound lane closure; use detours. Stadium Way is closed to southbound traffic from Broadway to the 705 onramp. Please follow detour routes on Broadway, St. Helens and Tacoma Avenue, and consider alternate routes to access downtown and/or the 705.  Stadium Way continues to be open northbound from the 705 to Tacoma Avenue. 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. In coordination with the City of Tacoma, crews will move rail into place on Stadium Way at 5 a.m. on Oct. 9 and Oct. 11.

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.
Map of water line work on Martin Luther King Jr. Way from 11th Street to 6th Avenue.
Map of stormwater work at Martin Luther King Jr. Way and South 16th Street.