Sound Transit selects Absher Construction to build elevated station, guideway for Northgate Link Extension

Construction to begin this fall on elevated structure and garage for light rail extension opening in 2021

The Sound Transit Board of Directors yesterday selected Absher Construction Company to build the Northgate Station, guideway and parking garage that will serve Northgate Link Extension trains when light rail service begins in 2021.

The $174 million contract includes constructing an elevated station at Northgate that will straddle Northeast 103rd Street east of First Avenue Northeast. Trains traveling in 3.5-mile twin tunnels to and from the University of Washington Station at Husky Stadium will stop at underground stations in the Roosevelt and U District neighborhoods, exit the tunnels at First Avenue Northeast and Northeast 95th and transition to a 0.8-mile elevated guideway to reach the station.

The work includes building a parking garage in the northeast corner of Northeast 103rd Street and First Avenue Northeast that will provide 450 stalls for transit users, and a transit island for light rail and bus connections.

Northgate Station construction is scheduled to be complete in 2020. Construction of underground stations in the Roosevelt and U District neighborhoods will start next year. When service opens in 2021 on the new extension, Northgate Station will serve as the northern terminus for light rail until Lynnwood Link opens in 2023.

Riders using Northgate Station will enjoy seven-minute rides to Husky Stadium, 14-minute rides to downtown and 47-minute rides to Sea-Tac Airport.

The $1.9 billion Northgate Link project extends light rail 4.3 miles north from the University of Washington to a station next to the King County Northgate Transit Center. During construction, Sound Transit will maintain current parking capacity at the park-and-ride lot.

More information on the Northgate Link Extension can be found at soundtransit.org/northgatelink.