Sound Transit begins construction of East Link light-rail guideway

Sound Transit has started building light-rail guideway in the Bel-Red area of Bellevue, Washington.

Crews are setting girders that will support light-rail tracks near the future Bel-Red/130th Station, agency officials said in a press release.

When completed, this segment of the East Link light-rail extension will transition from the elevated section of track in downtown Bellevue to the street-level section at the Bel-Red station.

After the girders are set, contractor crews will begin building a bridge deck for the future light-rail line from 124th Avenue NE to 130th Avenue NE in Bellevue. That bridge will connect the Spring District with the BelRed neighborhood.

The 14-mile East Link extension is slated to open in 2023. The line will run from downtown Seattle to downtown Bellevue and the Overlake area of Redmond, Washington.

In late 2017, Sound Transit began building the first elevated section of East Link in downtown Bellevue.