Expect delays: Seattle's light rail to have weekend service disruptions in April

Seattle link riders and those planning on attending upcoming Mariners' games should be prepared for some delays and disruptions in weekend travel starting next month.

Sound Transit announced construction on the East Link — expected to open in 2023 — will close stations between Sodo and University of Washington every weekend during the month of April. During the closure, engineers will work to connect the overhead catenary power and train signal systems for the new section to the existing system.

The closures will begin at 10 p.m. on Fridays and continue until 4 a.m. Mondays on the following weekends:

April 2-4

April 9-11

April 16-18

April 23-25

April 30-May 2

The link will still be running every 15 minutes between the Angle Lake Station and Sodo Station.

Sound Transit will be offering a free shuttle bus between the Sodo Station and UW Station during the closure. The shuttles will run every 10 minutes over the weekends and every 15 minutes on Friday nights. Fare will not be required on the shuttle buses.

The agency is advising riders using the shuttle to plan extra time for their trips, which could take 45 minutes between the two stations.

Crews will also be working to remove the temporary center platform at the Pioneer Square station which was built for the Connect 2020 project.

The closures are part of the Eastside expansion of the Link, bringing a total of ten new stations and 40 miles of tracks to Judkins Park, Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond.