LYNNWOOD LINK EXTENSION, L300 NE 200TH TO LYNNWOOD TRANSIT CENTER
Seattle
EXCELLENCE IN SAFETY and Merit Award, Road/Bridge
Sent by: Skanska USA Civil
OWNER: Sound traffic
LEADING/CIVIL/STRUCTURAL DESIGN COMPANY: HNTB | Jacobs Trusted Design Partner JV
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Skanska USA Civil West
MEP ENGINEERING: IMEG (formerly Rushing)
ARCHITECT: LMN Architects
CONSULTING ENGINEERING: KPFF Consulting Engineers
Extending Sound Transit’s Link light rail line 3.7 miles from Shoreline to the Lynnwood Transit Center required two elevated stations with vertical traffic, 2.3 miles of elevated guideway and 1.4 miles of track at level Additional work on this $914.85 million project included demolition, cleanup and remediation, utility relocations, track work, retaining walls, construction and a 1,650-space parking garage at the Lynnwood Transit Center.
A key feature is a 900-foot cast-in-place parabolic bridge over the I-5 freeway. The team used 3D modeling to identify rebar clashes, correct camber diagrams and ensure accurate placement of ducts housing 60 miles of post-tensioning cable before construction began. When the bridge was subsequently tensioned, it was raised up to 4 inches to stay in tolerance. This approach also ensured that installation proceeded within the required +/- ¼-in. railway tolerance.
Photo courtesy of Skanska USA Civil
With so many new hires on the project, the contractor developed a two-pronged approach with a plan, do, check and act culture that aligned employees with safety. First, the team developed a learning program for all managers and supervisors. The weekly training educated the workforce on policies relevant to project risks, with an emphasis on underground soil dynamics, crane operations, human-machine interface, mass concrete, public protection and working in high altitudes Then, once field work began, the contractor created a focused inspection program that helped verify the effectiveness of the training and ensure policies were being properly implemented.
To prioritize mental health throughout the workplace, the team implemented the Green Sticker program and actively integrated mental health awareness into daily operations with toolbox talks and strategically placed signs at all workplaces that displayed contact information for support services.
Photo courtesy of Skanska USA Civil
In over 3.6 million work hours, the project team recorded an OSHA recordable incident rate of 1.32 and a lost time injury rate of 0.11. There were two safety incidents with lost time throughout the duration of the project, both of which served as learning opportunities for the entire team.
In the early stages of the project, a subcontractor’s iron worker was injured by an unsecured rebar cage. This underscored the critical need for comprehensive security integration across all teams. Experienced ironworkers on the Skanska team were specifically tasked with overseeing and coordinating activities with iron subcontractors, facilitating deeper integration of these teams into an established safety culture.
The second incident occurred in 2022 when a wall form collapsed due to the failure of an engineering bolt, resulting in lost-time injuries to a Skanska carpenter. This technical failure affected the morale and emotional well-being of the team, highlighting the importance of psychological support in the management of workplace incidents. The contractor immediately offered bereavement and counseling services in multiple languages and revised its red-bolt policy, mandating multiple methods of protection when securing structures to eliminate reliance on any single security system.
