Tonight: Stadium Way Open House

If you’ve driven up and down South 9th in downtown Tacoma recently, you know what a mess it’s been. Someone else must have noticed too, because the City has posted a new recommended detour route.

To I-705
Although drivers may still use St. Helens Ave. to leave the Stadium Business District, a newly signed Alternate Route to I-705 via Tacoma Ave. S. and S. 13th St. is now available (follow the red arrows on the detour plan).

S. 9th St. has been removed from original detour route. If St. Helens Ave. is used, drivers are encouraged to continue south on Market St. until reaching S. 13th St., where the route turns left and merges with the new Alternate Route to I-705 (follow blue arrows on the detour plan).

From I-705
Although the Stadium Way ramp from I-705 remains open and continues to connect to Commerce St., another option to enter downtown is the City Center Exit. Following this exit, turn left on S. 11th St., and turn right onto Market St., where the route connects to the original detour using St. Helens Ave. to reach the Stadium Business District (follow the green arrows on the detour plan).

If you’ve got questions about the detour routes, or about what’s coming next, the City will be hosting an open house on the Stadium Way Arterial Project tonight from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. You can find out more about the City’s plans for the next phase of the Stadium Way upgrades, and ask questions of the contractor and City staff. More information at www.CityofTacoma.org/StadiumWay. And if you’ve found a secret wormhole, or other shortcut between the Stadium District and the north end of Pacific Avenue, let us know…