2019 has been a big year for light rail construction, as the future of transit in our region is starting to come into focus.
The Northgate Link Extension will open in 2021, followed by the Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension a year later and East Link in 2023. We'll stretch to Lynnwood, Federal Way and downtown Redmond in 2024.
In the meantime, there is always a lot of cool work to check out at our construction sites.
Thanks to our photographer, Glenn Landberg, for his work documenting these projects almost from start to finish, and kudos to the hard-working men and women who put in more than 2 million labor hours in 2019 building new rail lines connecting our region.
Checking out Roosevelt Station in January. The station is now more than 95 percent complete.
More construction at Roosevelt (and just a cool picture).
Planting trees at Paramount Open Space in Shoreline in April. Environmental work is an important part of the construction process.
Rail cutting and welding for Tacoma Link. Soon, the service will stretch up to the Hilltop and Stadium neighborhoods.
One of the highlights of this year was completing this light rail bridge over I-90. The East Link project is two-thirds complete.
Installing art is also part of the process. These "Nails" went in at the new Operations and Maintenance Facility East over the summer.
All 10 East Link stations are taking shape, including this one on Mercer Island.
Doing work on a gorgeous day at Northgate Station.
Celebrating the official start of construction for the Lynnwood Link Extension. This groundbreaking ceremony was followed by one in downtown Redmond. Both projects will open in 2024.
Can't wait to fly by traffic when Northgate opens in September 2021...
And over downtown Bellevue when East Link opens in 2023.
Conducting fieldwork for the Federal Way Link Extension, which opens in 2024.
Painting at Spring District Station.
Working on the bike cage at Roosevelt Station.
A sneak peek at the substantially complete Roosevelt Station.
We're headed into a difficult construction period, as 10 weeks of work in the downtown tunnel will reduce light rail service. But it's all in the name of connecting our region.