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

Sewer line work and potholing on Commerce Street resumes this week, including during the weekend of Jan. 8 at night

Publish Date

Starting today, January 4, crews will resume the sewer work on Commerce Street from S. 9th Street to the crosswalk just north of the Theater District Station. The contractor also will do potholing near and in the existing Link tracks and platform. In addition, the contractor will completely close the Commerce St. and S. 9th St. intersection to do the potholing and sewer work from Friday, Jan. 8 at 8 p.m. to Monday, Jan. 11 at 5 a.m.  Please follow the detour route on S. 7th St., Pacific Ave., S. 11th St., and Market St. and allow extra time to reach your destination – thank you. 

Crews continue installing track on the east side of Martin Luther King Jr. Way near Tacoma General and Mary Bridge hospitals, and began the track installation across 6th Avenue today, January 4. Access is open to hospitals, medical centers and the emergency department. To access the Emergency Department, please follow Martin Luther King Jr. Way south from Division Avenue and turn left at S. 5th St. Enter at S. 5th St. and exit through the alley to 6th Avenue. Please allow extra time to reach your destination – thank you. The contractor will be working in the 6th Ave and MLK Jr. Way intersection this Saturday, Jan 9 starting at 7 a.m.

In other areas, crews are paving on MLK Jr. Way from S. 17th St. to S. 19th St., and will finish this work and open MLK Jr. Way in this area by tomorrow, Jan. 5. The contractor is installing the raceway and track on E. 25th St. near the Operations and Maintenance Facility. Crews are installing temporary signals at the intersection of I St. and Division Ave this week, and will work on the traction power substation along Stadium Way. 

During the week of Jan 11, crews plan to start installing track on Division Avenue from Yakima Ave to I St, and install signals and lighting at the MLK Jr. Way and S. 11th St. intersection. In addition, crews will survey the underground fiber along the existing Tacoma Link route at night, starting as soon as the night of Jan 11.  

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, S. 9th Street, Division Avenue, I Street, Martin Luther King Jr. Way, 6th Avenue, S. 17th Street, S. 18th Street, and E. 25th Street.

When

Week of January 4

Where

  • Commerce Street from S. 9th Street to the crosswalk north of the Theater District Station – street closure during the day; southbound closure at night. As soon as January 4, crews will resume the sewer work on Commerce St. from S. 9th St. to the crosswalk just north of the Theater District Station. In addition, the contractor will do potholing near and in the existing Link tracks and platform. During working hours, Commerce St. will be closed in both directions between S. 9th St. and the crosswalk north of the Theater District Station. During non-working hours, Commerce St. will be open to northbound traffic. Please follow the detour route on S. 7th St., S. 9th St., and Pacific Ave. Access will be open to the parking garages and driveways on Commerce St.  
    The contractor will install the sewer line in the Commerce St. and S. 9th St. intersection from Friday, Jan. 8 at 8 p.m. to Monday, Jan 11 at 5 a.m. Crews also will drill the potholes in the Link track and platform areas. During this time, the intersection at S. 9th St. and Commerce St. will be completely closed. Please follow the detour route on S. 7th St., Pacific Ave., S. 11th St., and Market St. The contractor obtained a noise variance from the City of Tacoma to work at night.
  • Stadium Way from Division Ave. to S. 4th Street – lane restrictions. As soon as Wednesday, Jan 6, crews will resume work on the traction power substation along Stadium Way. The traffic lane closest to this work will be closed to allow truck access to this site. Later, the contractor will pour concrete for the traction power substation. Two-way traffic will be maintained on Stadium Way. 
  • Division Avenue and I Street intersection – lane restrictions. As soon as Monday, Jan 4, crews will install temporary lighting and signals at the Division Ave and I St. intersection. They will work on the corner by Wright Park and then the corner by Cosmonaut Coffee. This work will take one week. During this time, Division Ave and I St. will continue to be open to two-way traffic. 
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 7th St. to Jackson Hall – northbound lane closure. Crews are installing track on the east side of Martin Luther King Jr. Way, and started crossing 6th Avenue today, Jan. 4. MLK Jr. Way is closed to northbound traffic from S. 7th St. to Jackson Hall. To access Tacoma General’s Emergency Department, follow MLK Jr. Way south from Division Avenue and turn left at 5th St. The detour route is S. J St. Please allow extra time to reach your destination – thank you. Crews will be working in this intersection on Saturday, Jan. 9 starting at 7 a.m.
  • 6th Avenue east of MLK Jr. Way – intersection closure to the alley. Crews are installing track on the east side of MLK Jr. Way across 6th Avenue, closing 6th Avenue on the east side of MLK Jr. Way to the alley. Please follow the detour route: S. 9th St., S. J St., Division Ave., and Sprague Ave. The contractor plans to open 6th Avenue by Jan 20.
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 17 St. to S. 19th St. – street closure and intersection closures. As part of the track installation process, crews are paving Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 17th St. to S. 19th St., and plan to open MLK Jr. Way in this area by tomorrow, Jan 5. In the meantime, Martin Luther King Jr. Way is closed in both directions 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. 
  • East 25th Street from E. G St. to E. J St. – eastbound lane closure. Crews are installing the underground electrical raceway 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. Please follow the detour on Puyallup Avenue. After this work, crews will continue the track installation work in this area.

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 Commerce Street Construction closures, Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension

 

Construction map for 6th Ave Track Installation, Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension