The city of Bellevue announced Monday city contractors have completed the first segment of Northeast Spring Boulevard, a new east-west street that will run through BelRed.

According to a news release, the elevated segment runs from the Eastside Rail Corridor (the former BNSF railroad tracks) to 120th Avenue Northeast. For the next year or so, the roadway will be closed to traffic until a short connecting segment is completed. During this time, Sound Transit will use the roadway as the agency builds its East Link light rail line that’s adjacent to Spring Boulevard.

The construction cost for the elevated BelRed segment is $16.4 million. By finishing the first segment of Spring Boulevard now, rather than waiting until after Sound Transit completes its East Link work, it’s estimated the city will save several million dollars in construction costs.

Though short, the new segment includes two overpasses. Eventually, East Link trains will carry passengers beneath one of the spans. Passing beneath the other overpass is a light rail spur line connecting to an operations and maintenance yard that Sound Transit is building nearby.

In late 2018, the city of Bellevue is scheduled to begin work on the connecting segment from Northeast 12th Street, near 116th Avenue Northeast, to the just-completed segment. Once finished, Spring Boulevard will be open to traffic from Northeast 12th Street to 120th Avenue Northeast, about two-fifths of a mile, with traffic signals at each end.

The overall Spring Boulevard project is divided into five construction zones stretching about 1.4 miles, from Northeast 12th Street east to a 136th Place Northeast, then north to Northup Way. When complete, the new street will include two travel lanes in each direction, a center turn lane, bike lanes and landscaping. It will run parallel to East Link and, in some places, the light rail tracks will run down the center of the roadway.