According to the Daily Journal of Commerce, Central Link from Seattle to Tukwila may be as much as “$150 million cheaper than expected,” though the airport extension is over budget.
With 90 percent of construction complete, Fazel estimates the final price tag will be $2.294 billion, down from $2.437 billion.
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The 1.7-mile light-rail extension to the airport, unlike the Seattle-to-Tukwila segment, is over budget.
The “float” in schedule for the construction has all but disappeared, though it doesn’t seem to be getting worse:
Work in the Beacon Hill tunnel, which has already eaten up most of the cushion in the light-rail project’s construction schedule, is still challenging, Fazel told the board. Originally that cushion was six months, but now it has shrunk to nine days.
“We’re honestly a little bit edgy about it but (the 9-day cushion) has held now for several months,” said CEO Joni Earl.
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Work in the Beacon Hill tunnel is on the critical path of the entire project.
With so many tall buildings under construction around Seattle, finding workers to install the high-speed elevators at the Beacon Hill station will also be a challenge.“They’re highly skilled and very much in demand,” said agency spokesperson Bruce Gray.
The Beacon Hill station will have four elevators with a 165-foot drop between the surface and the station platform. It will take 20 seconds to travel from the surface to the station.
I like the way 90% done sounds.
Just get it done, please. If any of those who tried to block it over the past decade succeed now, they will have torn up my neighborhood for nothing. Although there is little chance of succeeding, even though one BRT Advocate suggested that the line itself could be converted, but sorry, the vehicles have been delivered, they are being tested.
Now if they can keep up the good work, go for it.