A look at the construction happening at Kent/Des Moines Station on Feb. 10. COURTESY PHOTO, Sound Transit

A look at the construction happening at Kent/Des Moines Station on Feb. 10. COURTESY PHOTO, Sound Transit

Federal Way Link Extension design-build contract over 25% complete

Sound Transit aiming for mid-2021 finish of design-build contract.

The design-build contact for the Federal Way Link Extension is more than 25% complete, according to Sound Transit.

Final design for the 7.8-mile, $3.1 billion route is scheduled to be completed by middle of this year. Utility and site preparation work began in 2019, followed by the start of heavy construction in July 2020.

“Community members across the region can watch the rapid construction progress that is now underway and look forward to 2024, when they can ride a light rail network that we’re on track to nearly triple, from 22 to 62 miles,” said Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff in a Feb. 10 news release. “These projects and the voter-approved projects that will follow will be critical both for our mobility and for creating thousands of jobs to help us rebound from the pandemic recession.”

Rogoff added that seven of the eight major Sound Transit extension projects under construction are on or below budget, and on or ahead of schedule.

So far, 30 of 121 drilled shafts for constructing elevated guideway and station facilities have been completed for the SeaTac to Federal Way extension scheduled to open in 2024. Work is also underway for the three new light rail stations and parking garages, adding 2,000 new parking spaces for riders. The stations and parking garages will be in Kent/Des Moines along Pacific Highway South, at South 272nd Street in Kent near Interstate 5 and in Federal Way.

Sound Transit’s Federal Way Link Extension extends from Angle Lake Station in SeaTac to an incoming light rail station next to the Federal Way Transit Center, later to venture into Pierce County via the Tacoma Dome Link Extension.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

Construction at the Kent/Des Moines Station, part of the Federal Way Link Extension. COURTESY PHOTO, Sound Transit

Construction at the Kent/Des Moines Station, part of the Federal Way Link Extension. COURTESY PHOTO, Sound Transit

More in News

t
Cancer Center is open and ready to serve South King County

Cancer patients can now receive treatment at the Valley Medical Center in Renton.

t
Kent officers part of CW ‘Police 24/7’ episode Thursday night, Feb. 6

Department also part of future episodes after CW crews responded on calls with police in 2024

An Amtrak train in Kent. FILE PHOTO, STEVE HUNTER, Kent Reporter
Pedestrian, 30, dies in Kent collision with Amtrak train | Update

Medical examiner identifies Kent man struck Wednesday evening, Feb. 5 near East Titus Street

t
NTSB rules pilot lost control in 2023 Kent small plane crash

Pilot and passenger were injured; pilot flew without receiving training in plane model’s operation

Courtesy Photo, King County
Man receives 35-year sentence for 2021 Kent killing of mother

Duane Bates borrowed pipe wrench from neighbor in beating death and later returned it

A city of Kent Public Works crew member chains up a truck Feb. 3 to help clear snow from streets. COURTESY PHOTO, City of Kent
Kent schools closed for 3rd consecutive day due to icy conditions

Kent School District cancels classes on Wednesday, Feb. 5

t
World Relief office in Kent faces challenging refugee crisis

Trump’s executive order to suspend refugee resettlement directly impacts nonprofit

Courtesy Photo, Kent School District
Kent schools closed Tuesday, Feb. 4 due to icy roads

Second consecutive day of no school due to road conditions

Courtesy Photo, City of Kent
Kent Severe Weather Shelter to be open nights of Feb. 3-7

Shelter downtown at Holy Spirit Church will operate from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. each night

t
Kent Police hire officer who fatally shot Kansas man while on duty

Officer previously worked for Olathe Police Department; remains subject of wrongful death lawsuit

Calvin Watts. COURTESY FILE PHOTO, Kent School District
Ex-Kent schools’ superintendent Watts fired from Georgia job

Gwinnett County board terminates superintendent contract; Watts left Kent in 2021 for position