Q&A: We caught up with Atlas’ Quality Manager Slava Kurkov to learn more about Seattle’s latest transit system upgrade – Sound Transit’s F200 Federal Way Link Extension project—and how the upgrade positively impacts the Pacific Northwest by improving connectivity for local communities.
On Saturday, December 6, Sound Transit celebrated a major milestone with the completion of its largest design-build project, the Federal Way Link Extension (FWLE) project. To prepare for the grand opening, Sound Transit spent months testing the new light rail vehicles without passengers onboard to help ensure operations run smoothly on opening day and beyond. This pre-revenue testing is essential to flawless opening operations, as well as minimizing downtime for both equipment and personnel.
Hundreds of people participated in the grand opening celebrations, attending the cultural activities, exhibits, and entertainment at each of the new stations. In partnership with Sound Transit, Atlas is proud to have had a hand in delivering the F200 link extension, which is part of Sound Transit’s larger commitment to build a 252-mile regional light rail network that will connect communities across the three counties.
Q: What is the FWLE project?
The FWLE is a new light rail line that extends the transit service 7.8 miles from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s existing Angle Lake Station (a project Atlas helped deliver in September 2016) to Federal Way. The extension connects the South Puget Sound communities, alleviates congestion on Interstate 5 (I-5), increases regional connectivity and provides reliable, rapid and efficient transportation services—giving Seattle residents a better way to get to the airport, work, restaurants, shopping districts and more.
Additionally, the project adds three new stations—Kent Des Moines, Star Lake and Downtown Federal Way—as well as a combined 3,200 parking spaces and connections to other transit services.
Q: How will the FWLE benefit the community?
Light rail and transit projects are all about connectivity, so by expanding Seattle’s light rail network south, we are helping connect residential and economic centers. The new line will decrease the amount of time it takes for residents to get around, all while reducing windshield time and the stresses of Seattle’s well known daily commute.
Q: Tell us about your role in the FWLE project.
I served as Atlas’ Quality Manager, entrusted to help Kiewit deliver another successful Sound Transit project for the Northwest. My involvement in the project began in 2019—about a year before the Notice to Proceed, with the relocation of Highline Water District’s main waterline near 211th Street. In early 2025, I took over as the Project Quality Assurance Manager to help get us to the milestone we have today.
For 14 years, I have worked alongside Kiewit and other regional partners to deliver massive infrastructure projects, including the FWLE. I appreciate Atlas’ and Kiewit’s shared commitment to quality standards. I feel so honored to spend my career helping deliver projects of this caliber, and no matter how many projects I have seen completed throughout my career, it still amazes me to see how city landscapes change and drawings come to life. In my day-to-day role, I oversee the small individual project elements, making certain all materials, processes, building and structural components stay within contract plan and specification tolerances, so it is always fulfilling to see how Atlas and our A- team impact finished projects that bring tremendous value to communities.
Q: What was Atlas’ role in the project?
Together with Sound Transit, Atlas is pleased to help bring Seattle’s vision of connectivity to reality through our multidisciplinary professional services, including quality, environmental, engineering, and survey support.
Throughout the project, Atlas’ team completed an estimated 40,000 inspections. On one of our busiest days, we completed 65 hold point inspections, including 14 separate concrete placements—supported by 17 inspectors and 5 technicians. Furthermore, the Quality Assurance team oversaw work completed by more than 35 contractors and subcontractors, which required close coordination with more than 10 major entities and jurisdictions, including Sound Transit, WSDOT, the Cities of SeaTac, Des Moines, Kent and Federal Way, as well as King County Metro, Highline Water District, Midway Sanitary District and Lakehaven Water and Sewer.
In addition to the thousands of inspections completed, Atlas’ team oversaw the concrete work required to get the job done. We poured approximately 163,000 cubic yards of concrete. To put that into perspective, consider filling up16,300 concrete mixers, which would be enough concrete to fill 50 Olympic-sized swimming pools or pave a standard 4-foot-wide sidewalk for 625 miles (the distance from Seattle to Sacramento). Our technicians also cast 37,562 concrete cylinders for strength testing, which is enough concrete to fill approximately 8 truckloads of concrete or 81 cubic yards—all to make 4”x 8” cylinders. We are talking about a lot of concrete work to say the least!
Q: What was one of the biggest challenges you faced on the FWLE project and how did you overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges we faced on the FWLE project was the unexpected redesign of the Structure C bridge near South 259th Place and I-5, where unstable and liquefiable soil in a wetland area posed construction challenges. Due to a potential landslide in the area and existing soil type, the design-build team had to completely redesign the bridge; however, while this engineering challenge presented a hurdle for the team, the resulting innovative bridge design by Kiewit Infrastructure Engineering and the talented group of craftsmen makes the light rail more resilient to seismic events and environmental elements for generations to come. Atlas’ A-team jumped in quickly to complete the 1,100-ft-long structure located on a 50-ft-high embankment, to keep the project on schedule, with zero quality concerns.
Q: What was one of the lessons you learned working on this project that you will be able to take to the next big project you work on?
At Atlas, we value people, and as a result, I’ve always said that we are first and foremost a people company with a desire and capability to oversee and solve complex technical challenges. I strive to lead by empowering our team to not only understand our role in the industry, but to look at challenges, identify a solution and keep looking for the next opportunity—this is what makes Atlas great. We genuinely believe that our people are the difference.
By working on complex projects, we provide value to our staff, who then pay it forward in the work they do for our clients and their communities. No matter the problem or situation at hand, there is always a competent, qualified and eager individual within the organization ready to tackle our clients’ biggest challenges. This is the Atlas difference and working on Sound Transit’s FWLE project gave our team of 55 inspectors and testers, who made an impact on the project, gain the experience and confidence required to continue making a difference.
Q: Can you share a bit about your background and what initially drew you to construction quality management?
As a teen, I began working in my family’s business, specializing in custom home building and tenant improvement projects in the South Puget Sound area. Understanding and delivering on clients’ needs is something I learned from an early age. Staying busy, staying engaged and focusing on results are lessons I learned early in life and continue to implement today, at home and at work.
I studied Construction Management at Central Washington University, and following graduation, I contributed to upgrading WWII-era company operations facilities and barracks at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. However, driven by a passion for solving complex problems, I leaned into the heavy civil side of construction, and each day has been rewarding in its own ways.
Throughout my career, I’ve taken on pivotal quality roles in several high-profile projects, including the I-405/SR520 expansion in Bellevue, Washington and the construction of the new SR 520 floating bridge across Lake Washington. These mega projects solidified my love for delivering quality work because they require a strong understanding of the plans and specifications. I thoroughly enjoy working closely with our clients and teams to build a culture that values quality too, so when Sound Transit rolled out their East Link Expansion program in 2016, I was eager to take part and enjoyed the challenges and problem solving it has brought every day.
One of the things I love most about my job and the region I work in is knowing that when one project ends, there’s always another coming down the pipeline. Each project and challenge are new opportunities to understand and grow personally and professionally. I will undoubtfully apply lessons I learned from this project to future work and continue developing a team focused on quality and doing the right thing. I look forward to partnering with Sound Transit on additional expansions and helping them fulfill its mission to extend transit systems to West Seattle and Ballard, as well as the Tacoma Dome Link Extensions, in the near future and beyond.
Slava Kurkov
Northwest Region Branch Manager
Slava Kurkov serves as the Branch Manager for Atlas’ Northwest region, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the construction and quality management industry. He joined Atlas in 2012. Slava began his construction career as a teenager with a family-owned business, specializing in custom home building and tenant improvement projects in the South Puget Sound area. After earning his Construction Management degree from Central Washington University, Slava contributed to upgrading WWII-era company operations facilities and barracks at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Driven by a passion for the heavy civil side of construction, Slava took on pivotal quality roles in several high-profile projects, including the I-405/SR520 expansion in Bellevue, Washington and the construction of the new SR 520 floating bridge across Lake Washington. As Quality Manager for Atlas, he also played a critical role in the Sound Transit East Link Expansion and the Federal Way Link Extension projects.
Slava’s approach to quality management emphasizes not only delivering the right product the first time but also fostering communication with owners to build trust, respect and collaborative project outcomes. He believes that a project focused on quality enhances schedule adherence, ensures profitability and strengthens relationships with all stakeholders.