Light Rail Awarded to Mowat Construction

Project launches extension of Sound Transit’s light rail to Sea-Tac Airport

The Port of Seattle and Sound Transit announced today that the first of three major contracts to build light rail to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and expand airport roadway capacity has been awarded to the low bidder, Mowat Construction of Woodinville. Port officials verified Mowat’s bid of $93,448,650.50, which was $3.3 million under the engineer’s estimate.

“This bid is good for both the Port of Seattle and Sound Transit,” said Patricia Davis, President of the Port Commission. “It keeps light rail on track to arrive at the airport on schedule and on budget in 2009.”

“Fast, reliable transportation between downtown Seattle and the airport gets closer all the time," said Sound Transit Board Chair and Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg. "The rapid pace of the Airport Link is the result of the strong partnership Sound Transit and the Port of Seattle have forged. It is the foundation we will use to expand regionally in the years ahead."

The first contract, which will be managed by the Port, involves roadway relocations to accommodate about one mile of light rail guideway between the northbound and southbound lanes of the current Airport Expressway, construction of a new lengthened return-to-terminal loop on the expressway, and demolition of the existing return loops to make way for the airport light rail station. In addition to building light rail, the work includes expanding the capacity of the airport’s roadways to handle increasing traffic in the years ahead.

Some preparatory work could begin within a few weeks. The work most visible to the public is expected after Labor Day, and involves demolition of several ramps near the main terminal entrance.  Lane relocations on the airport expressway could continue though 2007 as the median is widened to accommodate the light rail tracks.

The first of Sound Transit’s Link Light Rail trains is expected to pull into the airport in late 2009, in time for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Free shuttle buses will connect the Tukwila light rail station and the airport terminal during the several months between the mid-2009 light rail opening and completing the Airport Link extension by December 2009.

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