Map of the projected East Link Route – Image Credit: SounderBruce (CC by SA-4.0)
According to spokespeople from Sound Transit, the East Link tunnel under Bellevue should be completed by the end of the week. The tunnel, which extends 1,985 ft, will be part of a light rail line that connects Seattle to the Eastside area, connecting Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond. Passengers will be able to ride this new extension beginning in 2023. Sound Transit has provided animation of the full projected route on their website.
The tunnels lies 12 to 30 ft below the surface of Bellevue, and is being dug using an innovative method known as sequential evacuation. In this process, small amounts of soil are removed at a time using an excavator and iron girders. As the soil is excavated, concrete known as “shotcrete” is sprayed lining the tunnels edge. Using support equipment, the tunnel is dug from top to bottom. A video of the process can be seen here.
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