City of Olympia, WA

03/16/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/16/2026 17:01

03/16/2026 - Fones Rd Corridor Project: Upcoming Major Traffic Shift

Building a Safer Street for Everyone
Major Traffic Shift Begins March 23

A new traffic pattern is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 23. Southbound traffic will shift to the east to give crews the space needed to construct the new roadway.

Work hours will generally run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. This traffic pattern is expected to remain in place until summer 2026.

Please plan for possible delays and allow extra travel time when driving through the area.

Night Work Planned for March 23

To ensure the safety of work crews and complete the necessary work to establish new traffic lanes in one shift, the city's contractor will work a night shift on March 23rd.

Night work may slip until March 24th depending upon progress of other work.

Night work will start at 7:00pm and should be complete by 5:00 am.

What to Expect

• One lane will be maintained in each direction throughout the corridor.
• Left turns may not always be available. The 18th Avenue roundabout provides access to businesses and homes using right turns.
• Reduced lanes will remain in place through the end of construction, currently scheduled for fall 2026.
• Through-traffic is encouraged to use detour routes at Boulevard Road and Sleater Kinney Road to avoid delays.

Use Alternate Routes
While one lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction on Fones Road,it is highly recommended that drivers use alternate routes. This will help ensure the safety of work crews and people who live or work on Fones Road. If you must use Fones Road, please drive slowly.
Alternate Driving Route Map
Why This Change is Needed

Shifting traffic creates the safe work area required for crews to build the new roadway, an important step in delivering long-term improvements planned for the Fones Road corridor.

Thank You

We appreciate your continued patience and support as we work to transform the Fones Road corridor. Construction is expected to continue through Fall 2026, and we remain committed to minimizing impacts wherever possible.

Overview Map
Project Background
This project will transform Fones Road into a safer corridor. It will add sidewalks and crossings for pedestrians, separated bike lanes, an improved trail crossing, improvements for vehicle flow and truck access, and lighting. Landscaping, new pavement, and upgraded utilities are also part of the project.
How to Stay Informed
We are committed to keeping you informed throughout this project. For additional project information, please visit olympiawa.gov/fonesroad. To receive timely updates on construction impacts, visit olympiawa.gov/news and sign up for Construction and Traffic Alerts or follow @olyprojects on X.
Learn more about the project
Contact
Jim Rioux, Project Manager
Olympia Public Works
360.753.8484
[email protected]
Project hotline: (360) 301-8574.
Project email: [email protected]
City of Olympia, WA published this content on March 16, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 16, 2026 at 23:01 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]