Sound Transit currently carries out the construction of a light rail section in the center lanes of the Homer M. Hadley floating bridge across Lake Washington. Building light rail across a floating bridge is a world’s-first achievement, made possible by innovative engineering to create a track bridge that will compensate for six ranges of lake motion.
“In just a few years Eastside light rail riders will be able to cross the floating bridge safely and reliably in about a minute, no matter how congested traffic gets on I-90. This project, in the making for four decades, moves the region forward in building a critically needed transit connection between Seattle and the Eastside,” said Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff.
Construction on the bridge will continue through 2020, and will include the following activities: demolition of the barrier on the south side of the bridge; pontoon post-tensioning to strengthen the bridge; seismic retrofitting of the footings and superstructures of the east and west approach structures; installations of: an overhead catenary (power) system, the track bridge system, eastbound and westbound tracks, electrical and control systems, signals and traction power substations.
This summer’s construction activities include demolition of the barrier on the south side of the bridge, and work inside the pontoons to prepare for post-tensioning, a process that uses cables to compress the concrete pontoons together to strengthen the bridge.
The 11 km section of the East Link alignment that includes the floating bridge runs from the International District station in downtown Seattle to the East Channel Bridge and encompasses half of the light rail extension’s total length. This segment will include two new stations at Judkins Park and Mercer Island.
Share on:
