A Sound Transit spokesperson said tests in the coming weeks will provide clarity as to when the cross-lake section of the 2-Line will open.
SEATTLE — Sound Transit expects more clarity in the coming weeks as to when the light rail extension between Seattle and the Eastside will open.
Earlier this month, the agency announced the completion of the project would be delayed until 2026, rather than late 2025 as previously expected.
“We’re waiting, counting day-by-day. When is it going to open?” asked Adar Teague, a Seattle resident who takes the bus into Bellevue to use light rail. “We need the light rail… right now. Not tomorrow, not next month, not next week. Right now.”
Last week, crews successfully tested a light rail vehicle pull on the newly constructed tracks along the I-90 floating bridge over Lake Washington, according to Sound Transit spokesperson Rachelle Cunningham.
Cunningham said live wire testing is expected in the coming weeks, which will help determine a more specific timeline for the opening.
The extension will be the first light rail system to run across a floating bridge, creating “one of the most challenging and unique aspects of this complex mega-project.”
Crews have been working to finish rail installation and testing the electrical systems along the track.
The agency said several “complex technical issues” have come up throughout construction.
During rail installation, crews discovered a small number of bolt inserts within the concrete support blocks beneath the tracks need to be replaced.
“I hope the line can go from Seattle to [Bellevue] sooner rather than later,” said Xiaofei Xie, another Seattle resident who drives to Bellevue before commuting to work by train. “It’ll be super convenient when they open it. I live by Northgate and there is a station I can take over there in front of my house and [then] to work, it’ll be super sweet.”
The Downtown Redmond Link Extension opened May 10, signifying another milestone along the project.
Ten of the 12 stations on the 2-Line are now open.
