The Seattle Times reports that the opening of Sound Transit’s expansion to the Eastside including the new Judkins Park Station in the Central District will likely be delayed — but only by a matter of months, not years.

The Times says the concrete strike, construction problems, and supply chain issues are likely to push the opening of the line back to winter 2024.

Long planned for a June 2023 opening, the line will connect Bellevue, Redmond, and Seattle across the I-90 bridge — including the new station smack-dab in the middle of I-90 just south of Judkins Park, the western-most station on the 10-stop East Link line which is expected to carry 50,000 riders by 2030.

While development and growth is being spurred by the new station and line, other infrastructure changes like pedestrian safety and better connections for public transit in the area have been slower to take shape.

The likely half-year delay, meanwhile, is puny compared to the rolled-back timelines for light rail extensions to Ballard and West Seattle.

Sound Transit has said Judkins Park Station is one of the most complex in its system. Entrances are located at Rainier and 23rd which includes a prominent entry point to cyclists and pedestrians coming off the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trail.

The stop will be a popular one with Jimi Hendrix fans. Jimi Hendrix Park, a 2.5-acre green space at 25th Ave and S Massachusetts, is a short walk from the station and large murals of the musician from New Jersey-based artist Hank Willis Thomas will adorn the two outdoor elevator shafts.

Sound Transit says the East Link expansion project remains within its $3.7 billion budget.

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