The opening of the full East Link Extension, connecting Seattle’s light rail system to the Eastside, has been pushed back again. The new target date is April 25, 2026, according to Sound Transit’s June 2025 System Expansion Monthly Status Report.
The agency had previously projected an early 2026 start with a potential January 16 opening date. Earlier timelines targeted late 2025.
The delay affects the segment of the 2 Line that crosses Lake Washington via I-90, including new stations at Judkins Park and Mercer Island. These stations were most recently expected to open in early 2026. Sound Transit cites ongoing construction work, additional testing and training requirements, and time needed to resolve remaining issues as reasons for the postponement.
The 14-mile East Link Extension includes 10 stations stretching from Seattle’s International District to Judkins Park, across I-90 to Mercer Island and South Bellevue, through downtown Bellevue and the Bel-Red area, and ending at Redmond Technology Station.
A phased opening approach was approved by the Sound Transit Board in August 2023. The first phase, between South Bellevue and Redmond Technology Station, began service on April 27, 2024, with stops at East Main, Bellevue Downtown, Wilburton, Spring District/130th, Overlake Village, and Redmond Technology.
An additional 3.4 miles of track and two more stations, Marymoor Village and Downtown Redmond, opened on May 10, 2025, as part of the Downtown Redmond Link Extension.
Once complete, the 2 Line will connect the Eastside to Seattle’s 1 Line via the I-90 floating bridge and provide access to the Operations and Maintenance Facility East in Bellevue, supporting more frequent service and future expansion toward Federal Way.
Sound Transit said it remains committed to meeting quality and reliability standards before opening the remaining segment.
I’m sure it will be delayed again…
Why not open Bellevue to Mercer while they fix the issues on the lake?
Scrap it. Return the lanes to traffic! I don’t want a link to the Westside.
Sometimes things like this connection across the Lake require a little patience but well worth waiting for
Really, 8 years without any use of 25% of the bridge is the best they could do?
Time to cut losses and rip that s**t out of there and give the lanes back.
yeah, just drain an pave the lake. traffic and transport issues solved!
I consider this project very challenging and now
I am retired l think about the analysis of the
Floating bridge. Complex because in addition to the traditional loading cases hydrodynamic forces. Provide additional loading cases effected by tidal changes and wind loading up to hurricane force levels.
The model must include the cable stabilization
System anchoring the bridge to the lake bed.
The model is over a mile long. A fun job for a
Structural engineer versed in the skills and
experience. Hope the results are satisfactory
The dynamic model would be extensive including of course earthquake loading cases
Alan w Smith
Repurpose rails, wires, electrical infrastructure elsewhere in the system. Replace Eastside transit with battery-powered buses that pick up folks in neighborhoods, where they live, then form into trains for longer route segments.
The traffic on 90 is really horrible. It would be nice to actually see people working on the line if the reason truly is on going construction. We need traffic relief not delays
Always tell my international friends and family that when they wake some morning in the future and read a train has entered the water- they heard it first from me.
As a Bellevue homeowner for almost 50 years, this project over Lake Washington, while conceived with good intentions, has proven to be a GOLDEN PICK AND SHOVEL for all the contractors. I hope to live long enough to use this commuter convenience. With all the extensions/expansions planned, I will be paying for this construction MONEY PIT until I am 105 years old.
GRRR BRING BACK THE LANES GRRRRR
lol the trolls are great in these comments. Highly complex engineering takes time. Unfortunately this is taking longer than expected. We’ll get there eventually and once it opens, it will revolutionize transportation around the region.
With remote work and growth outside of the Seattle area, the original assumptions of density and traffic patterns in our region are obsolete. Ergo, the light rail is obsolete before it is even finished.
We would have been far better served with an expansion of flexible, less expensive bus rapid transit.
A 35 Billion dollar fiasco has blossomed into a 200 Billion dollar fiasco and absolutely no one is held accountable. Keep voting D, you deserve this.