Installing track on the east side of MLK Jr. Way from Division Ave to S. 5th St near Kaiser Permanente and Tacoma General starts this week

The contractor will start installing track on the east side of Martin Luther King Jr. Way from Division Avenue to S. 5th Street near Kaiser Permanente and Tacoma General as soon as Thursday, Dec. 3. This work will close MLK Jr. Way northbound from S. 5th St. to Division Ave. and close S. 3rd St. at MLK Jr. Way. To access Kaiser Permanente, please follow S. J St. to S. 3rd St. to their parking garage and front entrance. To access Tacoma General’s Emergency Department, follow MLK Jr. Way north from 6th Avenue, south from Division Ave., or east from S. 5th St. This work may last about one month from Division Ave. to S. 3rd St. Please allow extra time to reach your appointment – thank you. 

Before starting this track installation on the east side of MLK Jr. Way at Division Ave, crews will complete installing track on the west side of MLK Jr. Way from S. 7th St. to 6th Ave. as well as a side sewer repair between S. 8th St. and S. 9th St. Crews continue to install track on MLK Jr. Way from S. 17th St. to S. 19th St. and on E. 25th St. near the Operations and Maintenance Facility. The contractor plans to close the alley west of MLK Jr. Way from S. 15th St. to S. 16th St. to pour concrete for the traction power substation on Thursday, Dec. 3. 

The contractor does not plan to work in the Stadium Business District, Hilltop Business District (MLK Jr. Way from S. 9th St. to S. 15th St.) or on Commerce Street in December. The contractor may install Link power poles and do emergency repairs, such as street lighting, along the route in December. 

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 at Martin Luther King Jr. Way, S. 3rd Street, S. 7th Street, S. 17th Street, S. 18th Street, and E. 25th Street.

When

Week of November 30

Where

• Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 9th Street to 6th Avenue – southbound lane closure. Crews are installing track on the west side of Martin Luther King Jr. Way and will complete the section from S. 7th St. to 6th Avenue this week. In addition, the contractor is repairing a side sewer on MLK Jr. Way from S. 8th St. to S. 9th St. Currently, the southbound lane on MLK Jr. Way is closed between 6th Avenue and S. 9th St. In addition, S. 7th St. is 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. The contractor plans to complete this work and open MLK Jr. Way from S. 9th St. to 6th Ave and the S. 7th St. intersection this week. 
• Martin Luther King Jr. Way from Division Avenue to S. 5th Street – northbound lane closure. Crews will start installing track on the east side of Martin Luther King Jr. Way from Division Avenue to S. 5th Street as soon as Thursday, Dec. 3. This work will close the northbound lane of MLK Jr. Way from S. 5th St. to Division Ave. and close S. 3rd St. east of MLK Jr. Way to Kaiser Permanente’s driveway. To access Kaiser Permanente, please follow S. J St. to S. 3rd St. to their parking garage and front entrance. A right-hand only turn will be available from Kaiser onto MLK Jr. Way north to Division Ave. To access Tacoma General’s Emergency Department, follow MLK Jr. Way north from 6th Ave., south from Division Ave., or east on 5th St. The detour route is S. J St. Please allow extra time to reach your appointment – thank you. The track installation from Division Ave. to S. 3rd St. is expected to take about one month.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 17 St. to S. 19th St. – street closure and intersection closures. Crews are installing track on the east side of Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 17th St. to S. 19th 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. 19th St. to S. 17th St., and 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. This work is expected to continue in a full street closure through mid-December. 
• East 25th Street from E. G St. to E. J St. – eastbound lane closure and street closure from E. G St. to McKinley Ave. Crews are installing track on E. 25th St. near the Operations and Maintenance Facility, closing E. 25th St. to eastbound traffic between E. G St. and E. J St. The contractor may close E. 25th St. in both directions from E. G St. to McKinley Ave to install an underground electrical vault, as soon as Wed, Dec. 2 for about one week. Please follow the detour on Puyallup Avenue. 
• Division Avenue from MLK Jr. Way to Yakima Avenue – lane restrictions. Crews are installing one more foundation for a Link power pole on Division Avenue near Wright Park. 

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.