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Construction and testing are happening throughout the Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension project area, including crews continuing the roadway restoration and station finishes, adjusting utilities, testing systems, and repairing damages to the concrete and rail along the alignment. The contractor is also working on final checklist items, which come up at the end of a project, correcting any issues along the project area.
The construction and work schedule are dependent on weather. Please allow for extra travel time to get to your destination and follow detour signage. For details of the traffic control effects, please scroll down to the “Where” section.
Access to hospitals, medical centers and the emergency department will remain open during construction.
Please support your local businesses during construction. Let’s stay Loyal to the Local!
What
Continued construction and traffic restrictions along Stadium Way, N. 2nd Street, Division Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr. Way and the Dome District. More details specific to neighborhoods are provided below.
When
Feb. 17 update: Work will occur throughout both the day and nighttime hours.
Where
Entire project area:
- Rail grinding will occur along the corridor within the next few weeks. This work will take place during the day (off peak) and night, about 1-3 hours at a time. Expect temporary traffic control impacts and grinding noise during the work. Crews will be working at the intersection of:
- MLK Jr. Way and S. 18th Street
- MLK Jr. Way from S. 16th Street to S. 15th Street
- MLK Jr. Way from S. 13th Street to S. 12th Street
- MLK Jr. Way and S. 5th Street
- MLK Jr. Way and Division Avenue
- N. 1st Street and Tacoma Avenue (may require lane closures and nighttime work)
- N. 1st St. westbound, between Tacoma Avenue and Yakima Avenue (this work will occur during next week’s closure)
- Stadium Way and Division Avenue (will require a southbound closure of Stadium Way and nighttime work)
- Light rail train and track testing along the Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension project continues. From February to April, the contractor will continue to perform various system and vehicle testing.
- Corner closures, at signalized intersections along the corridor, will occur to install signage and replace damaged signal heads through late February.
- Daytime and nighttime track and light rail vehicle testing, electrical testing, traffic signal modifications, decorative sidewalk cutting, channeling revisions, completing final touches in stations, and finishing overhead wiring work for the future light rail system will happen in various locations along the alignment during the week (Commerce Street, Stadium Way, N. 1st St., Division Ave. and MLK Jr. Way).
- This construction will involve work at night and on weekends. The contractor has obtained a nighttime/weekend noise variance, a permit that allows them to make more noise than is typically allowed. They will need to temporarily remove parking and shift traffic to maintain a safe working area. Work will occur at night during the week and start as early as 7 a.m. on the weekends. The noise variance will be in place until the end of March.
- The overhead wires are now fully energized. Although we have wanted the public to treat the wires as if they are live since the installation, the wires are now officially live. Please be aware and coordinate with our project team and operations about any work that needs to happen near the trackway wires.
- The T Line’s last stop will be at the Commerce Street Station. The train will temporarily turn back at S. 7th Street and Commerce, until we start testing in 2023. Please make sure to stay within the parking lanes to not impede T Line vehicle access.
- Due to the winter weather, final road and parking lane striping in various areas will occur later in the year. Crews will schedule striping when the weather allows.
Dome District:
- No civil work planned related to the project.
Commerce/Stadium Way:
- The intersection at Commerce and 7th will be closed as early as Feb. 22 for track switch repair. Work will occur during the nighttime hours after the T Line is closed.
- Northbound N. 1st St./N. E Street/Stadium Way (Stadium Curve) from Tacoma Ave. to Division Ave. has reopened. A specialized contractor will come back at a future date to inspect the grinded rail.
- See entire project area information for nighttime and weekend work.
Stadium District (N. E St., N. 1st St., Division Ave.):
- Eastbound N. 1st St., from Yakima Ave. to Tacoma Ave., will be open as early as Feb. 17. Parking will be removed in the area for these repairs.
- Westbound N. 1st St., from Yakima St. to Tacoma Ave., will be fully closed, as early as Feb. 20 through Feb. 24, for final repairs and rail grinding. Parking will be removed in the area for these repairs.
- Future street closures:
- Westbound N. 1st St., from Broadway Street to Tacoma Ave., will be fully closed, as early as Feb. 27 through March 1 at nighttime hours, for final repairs. Parking will be removed in the area for these repairs.
- Eastbound N. 1st St., from Tacoma Ave. to Broadway St., will be fully closed, as early as Feb. 27 through March 1, for final repairs. Parking will be removed in the area for these repairs.
- Northbound I Street, at the east side of N. 2nd Street, will fully close for roadway restoration, as early Feb. 28 through March 13 and on the west side of N. 2nd St., as early as March 13 through March 18. This work is dependent on final corrections on Division Ave. from MLK to Yakima Ave.
- Tacoma Ave. and N. 1st St. will have a corner closure, for the removal of a diesel storage tank, as early as Feb. 23 through March 3. Parking will need to be removed for this work.
- The Yakima Ave. intersection at 2nd St. will fully close for roadway restoration in late March 2023. Parking will be impacted near the work area.
Hilltop/MLK Jr. Way:
- The permanent signals will be installed at the crosswalk to Tacoma General Hospital at a future date. This work will require closures in both directions.
- The city and Sound Transit walked the project area and have found items that need repair by the contractor. This will require short term directional closures of MLK in sections to maintain a safe work area. Work will include track slab repair, sidewalk repair and other types of concrete repair. The contractor will keep traffic open where space allows. This work continues to late March.
- S. 15th Street sidewalk between MLK Jr. Way and alley before S. J Street will be closed for final restoration, as early as Feb. 23 through March 2.
- The intersection at MLK Jr. Way and S. 13th St. is scheduled for track repair, including demolition of some track, clean-up, and potential replacement of rail. This work can take up to two weeks to complete. The repairs started on Feb. 6 and will open as early as Feb. 24. Parking will be removed in the northbound direction between just south of S. 13th St. to Earnest S. Brazill Street. This work has been extended to S. 14th Street for parking removal to complete the repair.
- MLK Jr. Way at S. 11th Street, adjacent to the Hilltop District Street Station, will be open as early as Feb. 17.
- MLK Jr. Way at 6th Avenue, adjacent to the 6th Avenue Station, will have directional street closures, as early as Feb. 20 through Feb. 22, for final repairs. Parking will be removed during this work and the contractor will try to minimize where possible.
- Future street closures:
- Crews will be working on MLK Jr. Way and Earnest S. Brazill St., installing drainage along the future light rail trackway. Work will require a full closure of the intersection. This will take about six days of work and is scheduled to start March/April 2023.
More
- Cross the street at only designated crosswalks. Wheelchairs, walkers, strollers and bicycles should cross tracks at a right angle. Obey all traffic signs and signals.
- Driveway and pedestrian access are maintained, although some sidewalks and crosswalks will be temporarily closed. Pedestrian detours will be in place.
- Crews will be installing lighting along MLK Way and Division Ave. Please look out for “No Parking” signs to allow crews to easily access their work areas.
- Buses will follow detour routes. Visit PierceTransit.org for information.
- Prepare for construction noise related to removing pavement and operating equipment.
- Large construction equipment or materials may have the right-of-way.
- Work will occur during the daytime and nighttime hours. Saturday work can start as early as 7 a.m.
- Businesses are open during construction. Support your local businesses — stay Loyal to the Local!
- Allow for extra time to reach your destination.
- Due to inclement weather or unforeseen issues, dates and times are subject to change.
Contact us
Community Engagement: htlink@soundtransit.org or 206-398-5300
After-hours construction hotline: 888-298-2395
Learn how to stay safe around our construction sites.
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