Community Transportation

Full blockage of 38th Avenue starts Aug. 17

Major construction on a $12 million revamp of the 38th Avenue corridor started two weeks ago, but the real pain for drivers starts now.

The city of Gig Harbor announced last week that a “rolling three-month closure” of 38th Avenue will start Monday, Aug. 17. Traffic could squeeze through the project on at least one lane of 38th during the first two weeks of work, but that won’t be the case for the next few months.

Traffic on 38th Avenue waits while work crews remove trees on Wednesday, Aug. 12. Photo by Julie Warrick Ammann

Both directions of 38th Avenue between Hunt Street and 63rd Street Court closed at 7 a.m. Monday. That allows contractors to begin installing new sewer lines under the street.

The project and resulting road closure will move steadily south on 38th, roughly a block at a time, until the sewer work wraps up. Depending on weather and other factors, that could happen as soon as early December.

The rolling closure will allow access to side streets from one direction, ensuring that people can still get to their homes. Signs will direct drivers to detour routes.

Crews will work 10 hours a day, six days a week, to install a new gravity sewer line. That means digging a trench of up to 25 feet deep.

Along with a new sewer line, the project also includes a roundabout at the intersection of 38th Avenue and 56th Street, new bike and pedestrian lanes and other utility work. Work on the project will continue into 2027.