Night work to restart on Fones Road Corridor Project in Olympia

The multimillion-dollar Fones Road Corridor Project in Olympia is chugging along with work crews nearing completion of the current section of water and power conversions servicing apartments, single-family homes and businesses.

The water and power conversions portion of the project is expected to wrap up this week, and then work crews will continue installing a new water main and connecting water service lines to the main. 

That portion of the project, which requires a shift back to nighttime work, should continue through mid-October. The nighttime work is scheduled to restart on Monday, Sept. 22.

“Additionally, PSE (Puget Sound Energy) will continue conversion of the current overhead electrical system to an underground system along Fones Road,” said the City of Olympia Public Works Department in an update on the project.

“Community members can expect to see PSE crews working during daytime work hours.”

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 will also 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.