Prepare for traffic changes near Federal Way Transit Center

Major traffic changes are coming Feb. 23 near the Federal Way Transit Center as construction crews work on the Sound Transit Link light rail extension.

The biggest change will be to 23rd Avenue South between South 320th and 317th streets. Southbound traffic on that stretch of the road will close until November as crews perform utility work and concrete paving. That section of the street will be one-way, only serving northbound motorists, for that period of time.

Nearby, South 317th Street, which funnels motorists into the city from I-5, will remain two-way, but the center turn lane will be eliminated, according to Sound Transit. By the end of the year, a new roundabout will be installed at the intersection of 23rd Avenue South and South 317th Street.

To offset traffic impacts from that work, Pete von Reichbauer Way South will be restriped to increase capacity, according to Sound Transit.

The Federal Way Link will extend light rail service from the Angle Lake Station in SeaTac to the Federal Way Transit Center. The 7.8-mile extension will include three stations: Kent/Des Moines near Highline College, Star Lake and downtown Federal Way.