Light rail work could disrupt I-5 drivers near Lynnwood

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — Construction of Lynnwood light rail is well underway and ongoing projects could affect drivers in the days and weeks ahead.

Work already started that requires nightly closures of the off ramp to east Highway 104 from I-5. The first overnight closure was between Monday and Friday, and the next ones are scheduled for this Monday, Memorial Day, through June 4, and June 9 to 11.

A detour will be marked by roadside signs. Sound Transit encourages people who plan on using eastbound Highway 104 to factor extra time for their travel.

Another part of the light rail extension project began Wednesday and is set to involve overnight activities each week through July 21.

Contractors are building the rail track between 52nd and 54th Avenues W along I-5. The work is set to resume Tuesday and span evenings into mornings. Next week will see three nights otherwise work is expected, Mondays through Thursdays. Noise mitigation is expected, but large cranes, lights and generators are planned for the work.

The work depends on weather conditions and could be rescheduled.

By 2024 Lynnwood Link and other extensions currently under construction will more than double the length of the region’s light rail system.

After Lynnwood opens that year, passengers from the Lynnwood Transit Center will be able to board 20-minute rides to the University of Washington, 27-minute rides to downtown Seattle and 60-minute rides to Sea-Tac Airport. Trains from Lynnwood will also serve the Eastside and reach downtown Bellevue in 51 minutes. The extension includes four new stations serving Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Shoreline and Seattle.

The extension will stretch 8.5 miles and is expected to serve 47,000 to 55,000 riders each day by 2026.

In April, Sound Transit announced an October 2 opening for its Northgate link in north Seattle.