If you saw a line-up of emergency response vehicles entering the Broadway station light rail construction area this week, don’t be alarmed. There’s no fire and nobody has been injured. For real. Representatives for Seattle Fire and Sound Transit tell CHS that the trucks and ambulances are part of drills being run at the site as contractors prepare to start tunneling toward downtown in the next two to three weeks.
There have been no reported significant injuries related to construction of the U-Link extension of the light rail line between downtown, Broadway and the University of Washington. One worker died in construction of the first light rail line in February 2007 when workers lost control of a train operating in the tunnel.
Not spotted so far at the Capitol Hill site has been truck MVU 1, the city’s only mobile ventilation unit. The $200,000+ truck specializes in battling flames in enclosed environments like tunnels.
Saturday, Sound Transit is hosting an event in the northwest corner of Cal Anderson park to mark the start of 18 months of tunneling from Broadway to downtown.
Look behind the red wall: Capitol Hill community event and Link light rail construction site tours
June 11, 2011
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Cal Anderson Park
10th Avenue between John Street and Denny Way
Capitol Hill neighborhood Seattle, WA
Capitol Hill community event featuring music group Toy Boats (playing from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.), Come by and learn about Sound Transit and its light rail construction projects. Bring the family to enjoy balloon animals and face-painting.Link light rail construction site tours will also be given. View the tunnel boring machine as it prepares to launch towards downtown Seattle. Please be sure to wear sturdy shoes. People wearing open-toed shoes will not be allowed onto the site.
