Downtown Construction Up-date: Pacific Avenue Night Work and Northbound Commerce Street Closure

On Monday, overnight paving and striping on Pacific Avenue from South 15th to South 9th streets will begin and continue for up to a week from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Two-way traffic will be maintained and police officers will be stationed at major intersections to direct traffic. The night work is an effort to shorten the duration of impacts, minimize daytime truck traffic, allow daytime on-street parking to remain open, and inconvenience fewer businesses, drivers and pedestrians. Late-night drivers, however, can expect increased congestion and delays due to paving equipment, support vehicles, field staff and pavement cure times.

The work is part of the comprehensive Pacific Avenue Streetscape Project, which is constructing new and upgraded sidewalks, new curbs, new pedestrian ramps, landscaping, art, street furnishings, lighting and rain gardens. This night work marks the last big individual component to be competed in the project’s center section. Paving in the north (South 9 to South 7 streets) and south (South 15th to South 17th streets) project areas will occur in November.

In addition, on Wednesday, Sept. 25th, daytime work on the Stadium Way Arterial Improvement Project will change Commerce Street to one-way southbound access only between South 7th Street and the I-705 interchange for up to eight weeks to accommodate additional surface water improvements. Drivers traveling north to the Stadium District should use a South 9th Street to Market Street to St. Helens Avenue detour. The northbound closure may open to evening traffic sooner than the full eight-week impact time period. Southbound traffic on Commerce Street will be kept open.

Along with storm water work, the Stadium Way Arterial Improvement Project includes new pavement, street lighting, a traffic signal at South 4th Street, bicycle lanes, pedestrian facilities, landscaping and the installation of new sewer lines and other utilities.

Those with questions about these projects may contact City of Tacoma Project Manager Mark D'Andrea at mdandrea@cityoftacoma.org or (253) 591-5518.