"The bids we opened today show that Puget Sound taxpayers will continue to benefit from the current favorable construction market," said Sound Transit Link Light Rail Executive Director Ahmad Fazel. "University Link light rail construction is well under way and late next year we will reach the exciting milestone of launching a tunnel boring machine from the Capitol Hill Station."

Sound Transit will review the apparent low bid to ensure it meets all project requirements and prepare a motion for review by the Sound Transit Board this fall. Sound Transit set a goal of nine percent of the contract award to be performed by small businesses subcontractors.  The apparent low bid set a 9.67 percent small business goal.

The second bid received was very close to the lowest, at $154,139,000. It was submitted by Kenny/Shea Joint Venture, formed by Kenny Construction of Northbrook, Ill. and J.F. Shea Construction of Walnut, Calif.

University Link construction is currently under way at the locations where underground stations will serve Capitol Hill, located east of Broadway next to Seattle Central Community College and University of Washington's Husky Stadium. Crews are also currently working along Interstate 5 at the Olive Way exit to prepare the structures beneath the freeway for the tunnel boring machines to pass through.