Mayor Nickels celebrates "the big pour" of elevated light rail tracks in SODO

Sound Transit today marked the pouring of concrete for the first elevated section of Central Link light rail trackway. 

"Day by day, week by week, Sound Transit is passing one milestone after another as we build light rail and bring relief to Seattle commuters," said Sound Transit Board Vice Chair and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, who held a news conference today atop the elevated structure. 

"Today, the ‘big pour' represents another major step we're taking to get the job done and create an 21st Century transportation system for Seattle and the region," Nickels said. 

Light rail construction is moving forward rapidly, with major work currently occurring in SODO, the Rainier Valley and Beacon Hill. Sound Transit currently has $1 billion dollars in light rail construction underway, putting local community members to work. By early next year the entire 14-mile initial segment will be under construction. 

The initial segment includes one mile of elevated trackway in SODO and approximately five miles in Tukwila. The SODO structure that is currently being poured is on the site of Central Link's operations and maintenance base. Together, the O&M base and SODO light rail alignment, which are being built by Kiewit Pacific Company, include 28,000 tons of concrete and 4,130 tons of reinforcing steel. The SODO light rail work is being carried out with an estimated 773,000 hours of craft worker labor. 

The Central Link initial segment is scheduled to open in 2009 and by 2020 is projected to carry more than 42,500 riders daily.

 
# # #

Sound Transit plans, builds and operates regional transit systems and services to improve mobility for Central Puget Sound.