Transit infrastructure updates: Seattle Link delay and Quebec Third Link proposals

Sound Transit has announced that the grand opening of the West Seattle Link Extension has been delayed from 2032 to 2035. The delay is attributed to longer-than-expected construction timelines for a new bridge over the Duwamish Waterway. While 3 Line trains will begin shuttling passengers across the waterway in 2035, a direct one-seat ride to downtown Seattle will not be available until a second tunnel is completed in 2042.

The agency reported $100 million in savings from a redesign of Seattle City Light infrastructure relocation, contributing to nearly $2 billion in total project savings. Additionally, the System Expansion Committee approved the acquisition process for 55 properties, including 19 homes and various industrial and municipal lands, along the planned right-of-way.

In Quebec, the Third Link project remains a subject of intense debate. The provincial government has received 21 private-sector proposals regarding the transit connection. A revised blueprint includes a 2.1-kilometer bridge designed to align with upcoming projects for the Island of Orleans while attempting to avoid conflicts with agricultural land. The final decision on the project rests with Premier François Legault’s administration.