Thursday, October 1, 2026
Partial street closures are being extended along Fones Road because of some unexpected design changes related to ongoing roundabout installation work for the multimillion-dollar project.
The current partial closure of Fones Road at the Home Depot south driveway is now expected to last through Aug. 26. Roundabout installation and paving work started in late July with an initial timeline of roughly three weeks for the latest part of the project.
The work is taking place from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Local access to Fones Road is being maintained for emergency vehicles and residents in the area.
Construction work is expected to continue through fall. Reduced lanes will remain in place through the end of construction
“Once the roundabout and splitter islands are completed, drivers south of Home Depot will no longer be able to make left turns to access or leave Fones Road,” said the City of Olympia Public Works Department in a construction and traffic alert. “Drivers must use the roundabout to access the other side of the street."
Construction on the Fones Road Corridor Project started in November 2024 with the goal of transforming it into a safer corridor for bicyclists, motorists, pedestrians and truckers.
The project also aims to create a safer connection to transit stops on 18th and Pacific avenues, as well as add landscaping and lighting along the corridor, which measures less than three-quarters of a mile.
The estimated cost of the corridor project is $24.5 million with the City of Olympia contributing more than $13 million. The city has also received more than $11 million in grants from state and federal sources to help pay for the project.
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Honestyandrealityguy
After YEARS of driving on Fones Road under construction, I believe it is time to get rid of government workers and get folks there who can finish the job.
Tuesday, August 18 Report this
TheGreatAnon
Honestyandrealityguy the laborers are not gumint slackers, they are hired & paid by private contractors.
Wednesday, August 19 Report this
DoctorFish
You do realize that this is a contractor, not city employees, right?
It's Pivetta Brothers Construction Inc.
I'm not absolving the government of the responsibility for the huge delays, but this isn't government workers doing the actual construction.
Wednesday, August 19 Report this
ThomasPain
There have not been any "huge delays". The project was planned to perform the infrastructure upgrades over a long period of time to avoid road closures on a busy corridor.
Wednesday, August 19 Report this
BillSpencer
Was there any way for the city (and contractor) to design something simpler and cheaper? 25 million dollars for a short stretch of road. There are so many roads in Olympia that need repair or renovation, especially downtown. I really like the new Fones and the separate bike lanes, it just boggles my mind how long and expensive it is.
Wednesday, August 26 Report this