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

Track installation on Martin Luther King Jr. Way crosses S. 9th Street this week

Publish Date

Crews continue installing track on the east side of Martin Luther King Jr. Way from 6th Avenue to S. 9th Street and will install track across S. 9th St. as soon as Thursday, Feb 4. Then MLK Jr. Way will be closed to northbound traffic from S. 10th St. to 6th Ave., and S. 9th St. will be closed at MLK Jr. Way east to the alley. Please follow the detour on S. J St. and allow extra time to reach your destination – thank you. Crews will pull rail into place on Friday, Feb. 5 at 5 a.m. – this will be the last track installed on MLK Jr. Way! 

On Division Avenue, crews are installing track from Yakima Ave. to I St. and building a new triangle at Division Ave/N. 1st St./Yakima Ave. In other areas, crews are installing signals and lighting at the intersections along MLK Jr. Way and will move to the Earnest Brazill St. intersection this week. In addition, crews are installing track on E. 25th St. near the Operations and Maintenance Facility. 

On Commerce Street, the contractor completed the sewer work and will open the street. Crews will return later to install stormwater pipes in the Commerce St. and S. 9th St. intersection as soon as the weekend of Feb 12. The contractor also plans to start track installation on Commerce St. from S. 7th St. to I-705 in mid-February. 

Last week, crews opened 6th Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Way north of 6th Avenue. Two sets of track are installed on MLK Jr. Way from 6th Ave to S. 3rd St.

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. 1st Street, Division Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr. Way, 6th Avenue, S. 7th Street, S. 8th Street, S. 9th Street, S. 11th Street, Earnest Brazill Street, S. 17th Street, and E. 25th Street

When

Week of February 1

Where

  • Commerce Street from S. 9th Street to the crosswalk north of the Theater District Station – street closure to open on Feb 1. Crews finished installing a sewer line on Commerce St. from S. 9th St. to the crosswalk just north of the Theater District Station. The contractor will open Commerce St. to two-way traffic today, Feb 1. Crews will return later this month, and may install stormwater pipes and structures in the Commerce St. and S. 9th St. intersection as soon as the weekend of Feb 12. The contractor also plans to install track on Commerce St. from S. 7th St. to the I-705 starting in mid-February. We will provide more information about the work, location, hours, traffic and other impacts. 
  • Division Avenue from S. G St. to Yakima Avenue -- street closure. Crews are installing track on Division Avenue from Yakima Avenue to I Street near Wright Park. The contractor also is installing track on the section of N. 1st St. near the triangle, and will rebuild the triangle. During this work, Division Ave. is closed in both directions from S. G St. to Yakima Ave. In addition, the slip lane from Division Ave. to N. 1st St. is closed. Please follow the detour on N. 1st St., Division Ave., S. I St., 6th Ave, and St. Helens – thank you. To access Kaiser Permanente and Tacoma General from Stadium Way, continue on Stadium Way to N. 1st St. to Division Ave. The track installation in this area is expected to be completed in mid-February (about Feb 16).
  • Division Avenue from Yakima Avenue to I Street – eastbound lane closure. Crews are installing track on Division Avenue from Yakima Avenue to I Street near Wright Park. Division Ave is closed to eastbound traffic from I St. to S. G St. (in addition to the full street closure from Yakima Ave. to S. G St). Please follow the detour on N. 1st St., Division Ave., S. I St., 6th Ave, and St. Helens – thank you. To access Kaiser Permanente and Tacoma General from Stadium Way, continue on Stadium Way to N. 1st St. to Division Ave. The track installation in this area is expected to be completed in mid-February (about Feb 16).
  • N. 1st Street from G St. to Yakima Ave – lane closure. As part of the track installation on Division Avenue, crews will install the curved rail from Division Ave. to N. 1st St. N. 1st St. is closed to northbound traffic near the triangle. The slip from Division Avenue to N. 1st St. is closed so crews can build the new triangle at Division Ave./N. 1st St./Yakima Ave. 
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way from S. 10th Street to 6th Avenue – northbound lane closure. Crews continue installing track on the east side of Martin Luther King Jr. Way and currently are working from 6th Ave. to S. 9th St. As soon as February 4, the contractor will install track across S. 9th St. This will extend the street closure one more block to S. 10th St. Then the northbound lane on MLK Jr. Way will be closed from S. 10th St. to 6th Ave. In addition, S. 9th St. will close east of MLK Jr. Way to the alley. S. 7th St. and S. 8th St. will continue to be closed from MLK Jr. Way east to the alley. Please follow the detour on S. J St. The contractor plans to pull rail into place on Friday, Feb 5 at 5 a.m. Crews may work on Saturdays starting at 7 a.m.
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Way and S. 11th St. intersection – lane restrictions. Crews are installing lighting and signals at the MLK Jr. Way and S. 11th St. intersection, and will work on one corner at a time. The contractor will continue signals work at each intersection along MLK Jr. Way, going south from S. 11th St. block-by-block to S. 19th St. This work is expected to take 3-4 days at each intersection. Crews plan to start signal work at the MLK Jr. Way and Earnest Brazill St. intersection on Thursday, Feb 4. 
  • S. 17th Street at Martin Luther King Jr. Way—intersection closure.  The rail that will be installed in the street is stored on the east side of MLK Jr. Way across S. 17th St. The S. 17th St. and MLK Jr. Way intersection is closed until this rail is installed.
  • East 25th Street from McKinley Ave. to E. J St. – eastbound lane closure. Crews are start installing track on E. 25th St. near the Operations and Maintenance Facility. E. 25th St. is closed to eastbound traffic between McKinley Ave. and E. J St. Please follow the detour on Puyallup Avenue. The contractor plans to work in E. 25th St. for several months, doing track installation and other work.

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 from S 6th St to S 10th St, Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension