The Associated General Contractors of America at its annual convention in Columbus, Ohio, over the weekend, named the Lynnwood Link Extension L300 the most outstanding construction project of 2024 in its prestigious Baldwin Group Build America Awards, considered the “Oscars of the Construction Industry.” The project’s general contractor, Skanska, received the coveted award and also won a Build Group America Award for the best construction management civil project of 2024.
“Sound Transit is very proud to be recognized with this prestigious award,” Sound Transit Spokesman John Gallagher told the Lynnwood Times. “It’s a testament to the collaboration and hard work of the construction teams, design teams and our staff. The Lynnwood Link extension is already reshaping how people move about and live in our region and will continue to benefit residents for generations to come.”
The Lynnwood Link Extension, which opened on Aug. 30, added 8.5 miles to the existing 1 Line. The $3.1 billion project includes four stations, one at Lynnwood City Center, one at Mountlake Terrace, and two in Shoreline, as well as three new parking structures. The extension connected the light rail system, which had previously only served King County, with Snohomish County.
Skanska, a global construction and development firm based out of Stockholm, Sweden, was a critical partner to the success of the Lynnwood Link extension building the Lynnwood City Center Station’s five-story parking garage and was responsible for meeting the construction standards required for the LEED Gold certification of that station.
The Lynnwood City Center Station—including the parking garage and plaza—was the first Sound Transit project to earn a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Skanska was also responsible for the Lynnwood Link Extension (L300) section delivering 3.8 miles of light rail guideway connecting the cities of Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace and Lynnwood to the north of Seattle at Northgate. Skanska also devised a temporary work platform over the highway, reducing the overall road closures impacting I-5 motorists.
Stacy & Witbeck/Kiewit/Hoffman L200 JV and Skanska Constructors performed civil construction on the extension. Mass Electric completed the systems work, which included the overhead catenary, traction power, signaling, and communications.
Infrastructure design firm HNTB collaborated with Sound Transit to ensure its design was consistent and compliant with the transportation authority’s standards, all while keeping costs under control. HNTB’s team selected the most effective type of structure for the region—precast concrete girders which the company used consistently throughout most of the stretch.
PGH Wong was responsible for civil construction management and Northwest Transit Systems Partners for systems construction management.
Ryan Clayton, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Skanska USA, told the Lynnwood Times at the Lynnwood Link Extension grand opening in August that that throughout the lifecycle of the project, Skanska employed approximately 1,000 from union trades.
In addition to Skanska being the top overall winner, Sound Transit’s L200 Lynnwood Link extension project by Stacy Witbeck/Kiewit, a joint venture, won the Baldwin Group Build America Award in the category for “Best New Highway & Transportation Project ($100 million or more).” Their joint venture delivered a five-mile transit segment to bring new Sound Transit light rail service north from Seattle into Snohomish County.
The Lynnwood Link Extension project was a culmination of 15 years of dedicated work. Voters approved the Link light rail system initially back in 1996, which included service from SeaTac airport to the University of Washington in Seattle, with a Northgate extension dependent on funding. Voters then approved Sound Transit’s 15-year program in 2008 which included the extension to Lynnwood and east to Bellevue/Redmond, and in 2016 approved extending light rail north to Everett and south all the way down to Tacoma by 2044.
Lynnwood is adding more than 3,000 housing units to its City Center because of light rail. Active construction sites along the Lynnwood Link extension will add over 10,000 new apartment units within walking distance of the new rail system, whose residents will take advantage of leveraging the transportation system’s investments. On Sound Transit property alone, there have been a total of 3,300 new living options built, the majority of which (2,200) are classified as affordable housing.
Housing Hope is currently building an additional 160 new affordable homes directly next to the Lynnwood City Center station, three quarters of which will serve larger families (three-to-four-bedroom units) which is in desperate need for the region.
The Build Group America awards honor Associated General Contractors of America members who build the nation’s most impressive construction projects ranging across the building, highway and transportation, utility infrastructure, and federal and heavy divisions. Build America winners excel in the areas of:
- State-of-the-art advancement
- Project management
- Innovation in construction techniques or materials
- Safety record
- Client service
- Community relations
- Environmental sensitivity
- Partnering excellence
AGC’s awards programs recognize the nation’s most pioneering projects as well as talented and community-minded contractors, innovative and successful AGC chapters, student chapter achievement, and contractors implementing outstanding safety programs, according to its website.
Editor’s Note: Article updated 9:13 a.m., April 14, 2025, with a statement from Sound Transit.
Author: Mario Lotmore
