The design-build contact for the Federal Way Link Extension is more than 25% complete, Sound Transit announced Feb. 10.

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. “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. 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 Des Moines, Kent and 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.

A look at the construction happening at Kent/Des Moines Station February 10, 2021. Part of the Federal Way Link Extension. Photo courtesy of Sound Transit

A look at the construction happening at Kent/Des Moines Station February 10, 2021. Part of the Federal Way Link Extension. Photo courtesy of Sound Transit