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

Martin Luther King Jr. Way to open to two-way traffic between 6th Avenue and S. 10th Street on March 19

Publish Date

Crews are finishing the track installation on Martin Luther King Jr. Way from 6th Avenue to S. 10th Street, and plan to open the street to two-way traffic on Friday, March 19. Crews will pave in between the tracks on Tuesday, March 16, and then will adjust utilities and paint the traffic lines on the street. This is the last track to be installed in Hilltop! After this work, two sets of track will be installed in Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 18th St. to S. 3rd St. 

At Martin Luther King Jr. Way and S. 17th Street, crews will resume underground electrical work, including tying-in the Link power poles to the electrical system. The contractor will start at S. 17th St. on Tuesday, March 16 and work north. Later, crews will install signals, lighting and foundations for signal poles.

The contractor continues the track installation process on Commerce Street between I-705 and the crosswalk north of the Theater District Station and at the Division Avenue and MLK Jr. Way intersection. Access is open to hospitals, medical centers and the emergency department. Crews will start installing sidewalks and curb and gutter near Kaiser Permanente starting on March 18. To access Kaiser Permanente, please follow S. J St. to S. 3rd St. or MLK Jr. Way north to S. 3rd St. To access Jackson Hall, follow MLK Jr. Way south from Division Ave. Please allow extra time to reach your destination – thank you.

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, N. 2nd Street, Division Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr. Way, S. 7th Street, S. 8th Street, S. 9th Street, and E. 25th Street

When

Week of March 15

Where

  • Commerce Street from I-705 to Theater District Station – street closure. Crews are installing track on Commerce St. from I-705 to the crosswalk north of the Theater District Station. This week, the contractor is installing the underground electrical vaults and raceway. Commerce St. is closed in both directions in this area for about one month. Access to driveways is maintained. To enter the driveways, please travel north on Commerce St. from S. 9th St. and follow the flagger’s directions. The detour route from I-705 is Stadium Way north to Broadway, Tacoma Avenue or St. Helens or take an earlier exit (City Center exit). Please allow extra time to reach your destination – thank you. 
  • N. 2nd Street between N. I Street and the alley – northbound lane closure. Crews are building the concrete pad for the traction power substation located on N. 2nd St. near Tacoma Public Utilities’ existing substation. This concrete pad work is expected to be completed this week. N. 2nd St. is closed to northbound traffic from N. I St. to the alley (the area near the substation) during the day. The contractor opens the street each night.
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 3rd Street to Division Avenue – northbound lane closure. Crews are installing the curved track in the Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Division Avenue intersection. The contractor will also install sidewalks, curb and gutter and other flatwork, starting on March 18. MLK Jr. Way is closed to northbound traffic from S. 3rd St. to Division Ave., and Division Ave. is closed to eastbound traffic from MLK Jr. Way to J St. To access Kaiser Permanente, please follow S. J St. to S. 3rd St. or MLK Jr. Way north to S. 3rd St. To access the Jackson parking garage, follow MLK Jr. Way south from Division Ave. Access is open to hospitals, medical centers and the emergency department. Please allow extra time to reach your destination – thank you.
  • Division Avenue from Martin Luther King Jr. Way to S. J St. – eastbound lane closure. Crews are installing the curved track in the Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Division Avenue intersection. Division Ave. is closed to eastbound traffic from MLK Jr. Way to J St. Westbound traffic is open on Division Avenue, including left turns at I St., J St., and MLK Jr. Way. To access Kaiser Permanente, please follow S. J St. to S. 3rd St. or MLK Jr. Way north to S. 3rd St. Access is open to hospitals, medical centers and the emergency department. Please allow extra time to reach your destination – thank you.
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 10th Street to 6th Avenue – northbound lane closure. Track installation is underway on the east side of Martin Luther King Jr. from 6th Ave. to across S. 9th St. The contractor will pave in between the tracks on Tuesday, March 16. Then, crews will adjust utilities and paint the traffic lines on the street. MLK Jr. Way is closed northbound from S. 10th St. to 6th Ave. In addition, S. 7th St., S. 8th St., and S. 9th St. are closed from MLK Jr. Way east to the alley. Please follow the detour on S. J St. Crews may work on Saturdays starting at 7 a.m. This section of MLK Jr. Way is expected to open to two-way traffic on March 19.
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way at S. 17th Street – traffic restrictions. Crews are tying-in the Link power poles to the electrical system, starting on March 16 at MLK Jr. Way at S. 17th St. and working north. Two-way traffic will be maintained for this work. Sidewalks or crosswalks may be closed from time to time. Please follow the pedestrian detour – thank you. The contractor will be working on several phases of electrical work in this area, and will return to install signals, lighting, and foundations for signal poles. Crews will do signal work at S. 17th St., S. 15th St., and S. 13th St. intersections.
  • East 25th Street from McKinley Ave. to E. J St. – eastbound lane closure. Currently, the track installation work on E. 25th St. near the Operations and Maintenance Facility has temporarily stopped to resolve a design issue. The issue is resolved, and the contractor plans to resume construction near the OMF. Crews will install a stormwater line, water line and curb and gutter near the OMF. Then crews will continue the track installation. In the meantime, E. 25th St. is closed to eastbound traffic between McKinley Ave. and E. J St. Please follow the detour on Puyallup Avenue. 

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 Division Avenue to South 3rd Street Flatwork, Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension