MYNORTHWEST NEWS

University Link light rail to open early, under budget

Nov 22, 2013, 2:27 PM | Updated: 2:35 pm

Workers stand next to what will be an escalator for the new University Link light rail station at t...

Workers stand next to what will be an escalator for the new University Link light rail station at the UW, Friday Nov. 22, 2013. (Photo courtesy office of Sen. Patty Murray)

(Photo courtesy office of Sen. Patty Murray)

The new Link light rail station next to Husky Stadium should be open six to nine months earlier than expected, and the project is on pace to come in more than $100 million under budget, officials announced Friday.

Sen. Patty Murray and others were on hand as Sound Transit offered a look at the new University Link station and tunnel. The line between Capitol Hill and the University of Washington is now slated to open between January and March of 2016.

The University Link extends existing light rail service to the north connecting the University of Washington and Capitol Hill to downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport.

The project features 3.15 miles of new tunnel track and two underground stations.

Sound Transit says the $1.95 billion project is 80 percent complete. The exact opening date will be announced sometime late next year or early 2015.

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