Sound Transit kicks off construction on East Link extension's elevated section

Sound Transit crews this week began construction of the first elevated section of the East Link light-rail extension in downtown Bellevue, Washington.

Crews placed two 117-foot precast girders, the first of a series that will form the base of the aerial guideway. When the girders are set, they'll support a cast-in-place concrete deck under the light-rail tracks and power system, agency officials said in a press release.

Crews are working near the site of the future Bellevue Downtown Station, which is adjacent to Bellevue City Hall on Sixth Street. The street-level station will have entrances on 110th Avenue Northeast and 112th Avenue Northeast.

Track east of the station will be elevated to cross Interstate 405 and continue through the hospital district to the future Wilburton Station and into Bellevue's Bel-Red neighborhood, where it will return to street level.

The East Link project involves extending Sound Transit's Link light-rail line 14 miles from downtown Seattle to downtown Bellevue and the Overlake area of Redmond, Washington. The extension is expected to be operational by 2023.

The project includes construction of light-rail tracks on a "floating" vehicular bridge across Interstate 90.