January 13, 2020

Upcoming construction impacts around Tacoma General, Mary Bridge Children’s hospitals

Upcoming Sound Transit Light Rail Extension utility replacement work on Martin Luther King Jr. Way will have several significant impacts on traffic and parking on and around Tacoma General and Mary Bridge Children’s hospitals and surrounding area starting the week of Jan. 13, 2020.

Those impacts are:

• The southbound lane (Jackson Hall and Baker Center side) of Martin Luther King Jr. Way will be closed from Division Avenue to the Baker Center driveway starting Monday, Jan. 13, for the foreseeable future. This means that cars will be unable to access Jackson Hall, Baker Center or the hospitals from the Division Avenue (north) end of MLK Jr. Way. Cars will be able to turn left into the Jackson Hall parking garage from the south, except during the closures noted below (The Baker Center garage should be accessed from 5th Street to avoid congestion on MLK Jr. Way). Note that the construction vendor also has permission from the city to halt ALL traffic on this portion of MLK Jr. Way for up to 15 minutes at a time to move construction equipment in and out of the construction zone.

• Complete blockage of Jackson Hall garage driveway on two separate occasions in the next few months. The first time this will happen starts Friday, Jan. 17, until 6am Tuesday, Jan. 21.* During this time, those who normally park in the Jackson Hall garage — including patients, MultiCare employees and Jackson Hall tenants — will be directed to park at different locations. Sound Transit flaggers will be positioned at the driveway providing information to drivers. (* Additional dates may be needed if work is affected by weather or other conditions.)

Patients with appointments at Jackson Hall during this time should plan to park in the Baker Center garage. 

This garage is conveniently located adjacent to the Jackson Hall building (see the MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital campus map for details). The best way to access the Baker Center garage will be from 5th Street. Signage and personal assistance will be available to guide you from Baker Center. Wheelchair assistance will also be available.

Valet parking for patients is available at the Mary Bridge Children’s Health Center and at the Tacoma General 2 Phillip hospital entrance on 5th street. And free patient parking is available from the 5th Street entrance of the P2 parking garage.

Anyone travelling to Tacoma General Hospital, Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, Baker Center, Jackson Hall, or any of the surrounding buildings should give themselves extra time for arrival, parking and departure.

Sound Transit has not determined the dates for the second closure of the Jackson garage, but could happen as early as February.

Read Sound Transit’s update about this specific work, or visit their Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension project page for more details about the overall light rail extension project.