Wondering when a pesky road closure in North Tacoma will end? We’ve got details
Drivers in North Tacoma will have to wait a bit longer for a pesky detour to clear up.
A portion of North I Street between North 11th street and North Steele Street, along with a small portion of North 12th Street, has been intermittently closed to traffic for the past few weeks as part of ongoing construction at Lowell Elementary.
The road closure will last for another two to three weeks, according to city spokesperson Maria Lee. One lane will continue to be intermittently open.
Detours direct drivers to travel onto North 11th or North Steele streets.
North I Street has been closed to complete a full-depth pavement removal and a restoration of the roadway, Lee said in an email. That includes improvements to underground pipes, according to Tanisha Jumper, chief communications officer for Tacoma Public Schools.
“While we know that road work is an inconvenience to the neighborhood and those passing through, we will leave the area in better condition that it started, including paved roadways, ADA accessible sidewalks, and crosswalks,” Jumper said in an email.
The elementary school, at 810 N. 13th St. has been under construction since March 2025, after the original building was demolished. Since 2024, students have been going to school at the former Skyline Elementary building at 2301 N Mildred St.
The new Lowell Elementary is set to open in September. Planned improvements include new playgrounds and playfields, upgraded sidewalks, roads and drainage systems, and updated parking facilities.
Lee said the renovations also support the city’s Safe Routes to School initiative, which aims to make it safer for families to walk or bike to school.
The construction project is funded by a $535 million school construction bond that voters passed in 2020, according to Tacoma Public Schools.
The bond also funded construction projects at seven other schools, including Whittier Elementary, Downing Elementary and Fawcett Elementary.
The News Tribune has asked Tacoma Public Schools for details on the cost of the project, but hasn’t heard back yet.
