Nighttime flashing signals at Pacific Avenue and Fones Road

Traffic signals at the intersection of Pacific Avenue SE and Fones Road SE are going into flashing status while crews work in and around the area during the evening and early morning hours.

The flashing status starts on Wednesday, Oct. 1. The work is connected to the multimillion-dollar Fones Road Corridor Project in Olympia.

"Traffic will be controlled by a uniformed police officer as needed to complete work throughout the month of October," said the City of Olympia Public Works Department in a construction and traffic alert on Wednesday.

"Work hours are 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. The traffic signals will be returned to normal function each morning."

The work on Fones Road is expected to become more involved as the project progresses. As a result, motorists are advised to avoid the area and use alternative routes, as a means to ensure the safety of work crews and people who live in the area.

Construction on the Fones Road Corridor Project kicked off in November 2024 with the goal of transforming it into a safer corridor for bicyclists, motorists, pedestrians and truckers.

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.

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. Water lines, stormwater treatment and communication lines will also be upgraded.