Nighttime work on Fones Road to run through December

Ongoing nighttime work on Fones Road in Olympia is expected to extend through December, as crews continue to work on installing a new watermain in the area.

The work, which is connected to the multimillion-dollar Fones Road Corridor Project, is taking place from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Monday through Thursday.

"Crews will set traffic signals to flash mode while working near the intersection of Pacific Avenue SE and Fones Road SE," said the City of Olympia Public Works Department in a construction and traffic alert on Friday, Oct. 31.

"Uniformed police officers will direct traffic during this work. Traffic signals will return to normal operation 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.