BELLEVUE, Wash. — The tunnel critical for the light’s rail expansion to the Eastside is complete after three years of construction.
The project will extend the light rail 14 miles from downtown Seattle to Bellevue and Redmond.
“These historic investments will finally give us the true mass transit network the Puget Sound region has sought for more than a half century. They will more than double our current reach and simultaneously help fuel our region’s economic recovery,” said Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff.
Using a sequential excavation method, soil was cut in small sections and spray applied to concrete inside. This part of the project was completed five months ahead of schedule.
King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci advocated for this light rail extension since the Bellevue City Council voted on it 10 years ago.
Construction began in 2017.
Her vision is now becoming a reality after Bellevue paid $100 million for this project.
The East Link will open in 2023, preceded by extensions to Northgate and Tacoma. In 2024, the Eastside branch will be further extended to downtown Redmond and Lynnwood.
Cox Media Group
