A Photo Tour of Link Construction
by Tim Bond from Seattle Transit Blog on (#5R0QK)
Recently STB writer Bruce Nourish and I had an opportunity to check out the new Link extensions from the air. Enjoy the photos!
Northgate Link ExtensionWe begin at Northgate Station; these photos were shot just prior to the opening of the extension:
Looking north at Northgate Station. Northgate Mall is the large cluster of properties in the center of the photo. On the far left, the alignment under construction can be seen running along the northbound lanes of I-5
The alignment under construction near NE 115th Street in Seattle. The building lower center with the wrap around it is the 72-unit Northgate West Condominiums. Northgate Station just to the south (right) of this photo. This is where the alignment transitions from the elevated Northgate Station to at-grade along I-5
Looking west at Northgate Station. The new The John Lewis Memorial Bridge connects the station to neighborhoods west of I-5, with North Seattle College in the center of the photo
Looking east towards Northgate Station, with the new The John Lewis Memorial Bridge crossing I-5. North Seattle College is in the lower right, with nearby homes a short walk from the bridge
Lynnwood Link Extension
Looking east across I-5. NE 130th Street is the overpass across I-5 in the center.
Looking northeast at the future Shoreline South/148th" station (interim name). The football field of the Lakeside school is visible in the lower left. Towards the upper left the alignment transitions away from the elevated alignment to at-grade
Adjacent to the alignment we can see Metro's North Base (center), and Shoreline Recycling & Transfer Station just beyond. The Link alignment runs between the newly-constructed noise wall and the northbound lanes of I-5
Looking east at the future Shoreline North/185th" station
Looking south at the future Shoreline North/185th" station. At the top of the photo the transition between elevated tracks and at-grade tracks is visible. This angle also shows the station butting up directly to single family residences. Shoreline Stadium is visible on the right side of the photo
The existing Mountlake Terrace Station is seen here. The partially constructed elevated track can be seen as it departs the edge of the I-5 lanes and enters the area where the station will be built. On the extreme left the alignment can be seen being constructed over the travel lanes of I-5
Looking at the elevated alignment being constructed over the northbound lanes of I-5, just north of Mountlake Terrace Station
Looking northeast at the future Shoreline South/148th" station (interim name). The football field of the Lakeside school is visible in the lower left. Towards the upper left the alignment transitions away from the elevated alignment to at-grade
The existing Mountlake Terrace Station is seen here. The partially constructed elevated track can be seen as it departs the edge of the I-5 lanes and enters the area where the station will be built. On the extreme left the alignment can be seen being constructed over the travel lanes of I-5
Looking at the elevated alignment being constructed over the northbound lanes of I-5, just north of Mountlake Terrace Station
Looking east at the future Lynnwood City Center Station. Parking garage construction can be seen next to the existing HOV ramp to and from I-5
Looking south at the future Lynnwood City Center Station. The upper left of the photo shows elevated guideway from the station transitioning to at-grade next to the southbound lanes of I-5
East LinkTransitioning to the Eastside, we can see the line nearing completion:
Looking south near central Bellevue. The Sound Transit Operations & Maintenence Facility East (OMF East) can be seen in the lower left. Downtown Bellevue is on the right, and the light rail tracks can be seen crossing I-405 with the elevated Wilburton Station between 405 and the OMF
Looking east at the Microsoft Campus, with the Redmond Technology Station on the far left.
Looking west at the future SE Redmond Station. Marymoor Park is in the upper left corner. Towards the center the construction of the tracks towards Downtown Redmond Station can be seen
Looking at the newly constructed underpass where the alignment runs along the westbound lanes of SR-520. The overpass over 520 is NE 51st
Looking Southwest at the Microsoft campus with Downtown Bellevue in the far distance in the upper right. The Redmond Technology Station can be seen under construction in the lower center of the photo
Looking west at the greater Bel-Red neighborhood. The future at-grade Bel-Red/130th Station can be seen in the center of the photo. Near upper left is downtown Bellevue, far upper left is Downtown Seattle. Towards the lower right of the photo the alignment can be seen transitioning from at-grade to elevated along the eastbound lanes of SR-520
Looking west across Wilburton/Bel-Red. Bel-Red/130th Station can be seen at the bottom edge of the photo; Spring District/120th Station is located near the gossy black buildings in the center. Downtown Bellevue is partially visible on the left of the photo, and Downtown Seattle along the top edge
Special thanks to Bruce Nourish for making this happen!
Northgate Link ExtensionWe begin at Northgate Station; these photos were shot just prior to the opening of the extension:
Looking north at Northgate Station. Northgate Mall is the large cluster of properties in the center of the photo. On the far left, the alignment under construction can be seen running along the northbound lanes of I-5
The alignment under construction near NE 115th Street in Seattle. The building lower center with the wrap around it is the 72-unit Northgate West Condominiums. Northgate Station just to the south (right) of this photo. This is where the alignment transitions from the elevated Northgate Station to at-grade along I-5
Looking west at Northgate Station. The new The John Lewis Memorial Bridge connects the station to neighborhoods west of I-5, with North Seattle College in the center of the photo
Looking east towards Northgate Station, with the new The John Lewis Memorial Bridge crossing I-5. North Seattle College is in the lower right, with nearby homes a short walk from the bridge
Lynnwood Link Extension
Looking east across I-5. NE 130th Street is the overpass across I-5 in the center.
Looking northeast at the future Shoreline South/148th" station (interim name). The football field of the Lakeside school is visible in the lower left. Towards the upper left the alignment transitions away from the elevated alignment to at-grade
Adjacent to the alignment we can see Metro's North Base (center), and Shoreline Recycling & Transfer Station just beyond. The Link alignment runs between the newly-constructed noise wall and the northbound lanes of I-5
Looking east at the future Shoreline North/185th" station
Looking south at the future Shoreline North/185th" station. At the top of the photo the transition between elevated tracks and at-grade tracks is visible. This angle also shows the station butting up directly to single family residences. Shoreline Stadium is visible on the right side of the photo
The existing Mountlake Terrace Station is seen here. The partially constructed elevated track can be seen as it departs the edge of the I-5 lanes and enters the area where the station will be built. On the extreme left the alignment can be seen being constructed over the travel lanes of I-5
Looking at the elevated alignment being constructed over the northbound lanes of I-5, just north of Mountlake Terrace Station
Looking northeast at the future Shoreline South/148th" station (interim name). The football field of the Lakeside school is visible in the lower left. Towards the upper left the alignment transitions away from the elevated alignment to at-grade
The existing Mountlake Terrace Station is seen here. The partially constructed elevated track can be seen as it departs the edge of the I-5 lanes and enters the area where the station will be built. On the extreme left the alignment can be seen being constructed over the travel lanes of I-5
Looking at the elevated alignment being constructed over the northbound lanes of I-5, just north of Mountlake Terrace Station
Looking east at the future Lynnwood City Center Station. Parking garage construction can be seen next to the existing HOV ramp to and from I-5
Looking south at the future Lynnwood City Center Station. The upper left of the photo shows elevated guideway from the station transitioning to at-grade next to the southbound lanes of I-5
East LinkTransitioning to the Eastside, we can see the line nearing completion:
Looking south near central Bellevue. The Sound Transit Operations & Maintenence Facility East (OMF East) can be seen in the lower left. Downtown Bellevue is on the right, and the light rail tracks can be seen crossing I-405 with the elevated Wilburton Station between 405 and the OMF
Looking east at the Microsoft Campus, with the Redmond Technology Station on the far left.
Looking west at the future SE Redmond Station. Marymoor Park is in the upper left corner. Towards the center the construction of the tracks towards Downtown Redmond Station can be seen
Looking at the newly constructed underpass where the alignment runs along the westbound lanes of SR-520. The overpass over 520 is NE 51st
Looking Southwest at the Microsoft campus with Downtown Bellevue in the far distance in the upper right. The Redmond Technology Station can be seen under construction in the lower center of the photo
Looking west at the greater Bel-Red neighborhood. The future at-grade Bel-Red/130th Station can be seen in the center of the photo. Near upper left is downtown Bellevue, far upper left is Downtown Seattle. Towards the lower right of the photo the alignment can be seen transitioning from at-grade to elevated along the eastbound lanes of SR-520
Looking west across Wilburton/Bel-Red. Bel-Red/130th Station can be seen at the bottom edge of the photo; Spring District/120th Station is located near the gossy black buildings in the center. Downtown Bellevue is partially visible on the left of the photo, and Downtown Seattle along the top edge
Special thanks to Bruce Nourish for making this happen!