King and Snohomish Counties, WA — Commuters using Sound Transit’s Link light rail 1 Line should be prepared for major delays and detours from April 14 to April 23 due to essential rail repair work in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel.
The southbound track between Westlake and Stadium stations will be closed for nine days as crews work to fix a cracked rail between Pioneer Square and the International District stations. The repair work will involve removing, replacing, and rebuilding the damaged track, which requires shutting down the southbound tunnel and track.
To accommodate passengers, shuttle trains will operate on the northbound track, running every 25 to 30 minutes between Westlake and Stadium stations. Expect a noisy environment, with construction fans and other machinery working in the tunnels, which could be noticeable to passengers on both trains and platforms.
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During this period, trains will operate separately to the north and south of downtown Seattle. Passengers traveling through downtown will need to transfer twice to reach their final destinations. Northbound trains will run approximately every 12 minutes between Lynnwood and Westlake, and Angle Lake to Stadium.
For those looking to avoid longer travel times, Sound Transit recommends using alternative transit options, particularly local buses. King County Metro has introduced a “downtown circulator” bus during the evening commute to help alleviate crowding.
If you’re coming from Snohomish County, consider using alternative routes such as the N Line, or Route 510 and 515. Community Transit has added additional trips to Route 515 during the closure.
Sound Transit urges passengers to plan ahead, allow extra time for their travels, and consider alternate transportation to minimize disruptions during the maintenance period .
