The West Seattle Extension is part of the ST3 plan approved by voters in 2016 — the largest infrastructure program in Seattle’s history. 

As major projects begin wrapping up under the current program, Sound Transit gears up for the next $54-billion stage.

Sound Transit, serving the Seattle metropolitan area, will debut the first 6.5-mile segment of its $3.67-billion East Link Extension April 27, launching light-rail service along an eight-station route between South Bellevue and the Redmond Technology Center, both east of the city.

Contractor's winning bid is more than $1B under the only other shortlisted firm, a joint venture of Walsh and Canada-based Aecon.

Sound Transit to extend its light rail system and improve infrastructure with the federal funding.

Superlative-filled tunnel-boring machines are nothing new to Seattle. From the infamous mole that dug a new State Route 99 tunnel to a handful of TBMs carving a new path for Sound Transit’s aggressive light rail expansion, tunneling under the Pacific Northwest city is almost commonplace.

Photographs chosen by our editors from submissions to ENR.com/california/photos and ENR.com/northwest/photos

Seattle-area Sound Transit, ENR California/Northwest Owner of the Year, completed a key light rail link in 2021 despite impending management changes and inflationary price hikes.