Northgate Link Extension

Northgate Link Extension (formerly known as "North Link"[1]) is a northern extension of the University Link light rail line that will connect the University District to Northgate in Seattle. The 4.3-mile light rail extension includes stations in the University District, Roosevelt, and Northgate neighborhoods. Northgate Link Extension is scheduled to open for service in 2021. The project is part of the Sound Transit 2 (ST2) package approved by voters in November 2008.

Northgate Link Extension route map
Legend
 to Lynnwood Link Extension
Northgate
Roosevelt
 U District
 University
 to University Link

Routing

For the Northgate Link Extension project, the tunnel already under construction for University Link will continue north to the University District and the Roosevelt neighborhoods before emerging at the surface along I-5 near NE 94th Street to serve the elevated Northgate station.

Sound Transit is preparing to extend mass transit from Northgate to Lynnwood, which voters approved as part of the Sound Transit 2 Plan in 2008, along with funding to continue planning future service all the way to Everett. This project is known as the Lynnwood Link Extension Project.

Stations

Name City/Neighborhood Location Features
Northgate Link Extension (University - Northgate Station)
Connection to (University Link)
University Link Tunnel
University of Washington University District, Seattle Intersection of Montlake Blvd. and N.E. Pacific St. Connections to Kirkland, Redmond and Bellevue via Bus Rapid Transit on SR 520
U District University District, Seattle Intersection of N.E. 45th St. and Brooklyn Ave. N.E. Station platform will be approximately 80 feet below ground.[2] Station will be constructed using cut and cover techniques.
Roosevelt Roosevelt, Seattle Intersection of N.E. 65th St. and 12th Ave. N.E. Station platform will be approximately 90 feet below ground.[3] Station will be constructed using cut and cover techniques.
Elevated Section
Northgate Northgate, Seattle Intersection of 1st Ave. N.E. and N.E. 103rd St. Larger park & ride lot, bus transfer center, and pedestrian improvements to Northgate Mall
End of line; future extension (Lynnwood Link Extension)

Construction

Cutting head of tunnel boring machine "Brenda" (right) at Roosevelt Station pit after completing tunnel from Northgate

Construction on the Northgate Link Extension began in 2012 and is scheduled to open for service in 2021.[4]

Tunnels

The first tunnel segment, one of two 3.4-mile (5.5 km) parallel tunnels between Roosevelt Station and the Maple Leaf Portal, was completed on March 17, 2015, by a 21.5-foot (6.6 m) diameter tunnel boring machine named Brenda.[5] Brenda and a sister machine named Pamela will together dig six tunnel segments between the portal and the University of Washington station, with expected completion in late 2017.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "New Project Name". Sound Transit. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  2. ↑ "U District Station". Sound Transit. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  3. ↑ "Roosevelt Station". Sound Transit. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  4. ↑ "Northgate Link Extension Project Phases". Sound Transit. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  5. ↑ Mike Lindblom (March 17, 2015), "Transit-tunnel machine reaches daylight at Roosevelt Station", The Seattle Times
  6. ↑ Northgate link extension—Maple Leaf Portal and tunnels, Sound Transit, retrieved 2015-03-17

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Northgate Link Extension.