Construction on Blue Line Extension, June 11, 2015. Photo from East 11th Street. Photo: Nancy Pierce

A view of the Charlotte skyline from the construction site at East 11th Street. The rig is drilling a hole to set piles for panel wall construction. Photo: Nancy Pierce

Looking toward 9th Street, from 7th Street, June 11, 2015. Photo Nancy Pierce

The view from Seventh Street Station parking deck, looking north to Ninth Street. UNC Charlotte Center City is at upper right, with construction on First Ward Park next to it. Photo: Nancy Pierce

Workers pour walls for the foundation at the Blue Line Extension's Ninth Street Station uptown. Photo: Nancy Pierce

Workers pour walls for the foundation at the Ninth Street Station uptown. Photo: Nancy Pierce

A retaining wall rises up to the bridge over the CSX freight rail tracks. View is looking east from 12th Street, June 11, 2015. Photo: Nancy Pierce

A retaining wall rises up to the bridge over the CSX freight rail tracks. View is looking east from 12th Street. Photo: Nancy Pierce

Uptown Charlotte skyline, seen from the bridge over the CSX freight line. Photo: Nancy Pierce. 6-11-15

The uptown Charlotte skyline, seen from the Blue Line Extension bridge over the CSX freight line at East 16th Street. The crane lifts in wooden forms, to form concrete for the bridge overhang. Photo: Nancy Pierce

Brevard Street, viewed from Matheson. Blue Line Extension workers install a box culvert to protect workers from cave-ins. Photo: Nancy Pierce 6-11-15

Looking down at Brevard Street from the Matheson Avenue bridge. Workers on the Blue Line Extension install a box culvert, a temporary structure to protect workers from cave-ins. Photo: Nancy Pierce

On Cullman Avenue, between Little Sugar Creek and light rail, rebar set in place for a retaining wall. Photo: Nancy Pierce 6-11-15

Rebar has been set in place for a cast-in-place retaining wall, which will be part of the art wall, “Trap plant, sundew and leaves,” from artist Carolyn Braaksma. This scene is along Cullman Avenue in NoDa, between Little Sugar Creek and the rail line. Photo: Nancy Pierce

This is the Eastway Drive bridge being built over the Norfolk Southern and Blue Line Extension tracks. The work closed Eastway Drive, a major thoroughfare, in May 2014. It was to have reopened in December 2014 but now it won't open until September. In this June photo, workers install wooden forms to cap the piers before setting down the bridge deck. Photo: Nancy Pierce

Construction barrels along North Tryon Street at Tom Hunter Road. Photo: Nancy Pierce 6-11-15

For months, construction barrels have decorated North Tryon Street, where the Blue Line Extension will run in the median. These are near Orr Road. Photo: Nancy Pierce

Crews work on a parking lane, curb, gutter and sidewalk in front of Fashion Warehouse, North Tryon Street at Tom Hunter Road. Photo: Nancy Pierce 6-11-15

Crews work on a parking lane, curb, gutter and sidewalk in front of Fashion Warehouse, North Tryon Street at Tom Hunter Road. Owner George Saini, who hangs clothes outside “New York style,” says he is happy the construction will provide more parking and a more walkable approach to his store. Photo: Nancy Pierce

Art from Carolyn Braaksma for Blue Line Extension, at North Tryon Street and I-85 service road. Photo: Nancy Pierce 6-11-15

Art by Carolyn Braaksma, “Trap plant, sundew and leaves,” will decorate 4 miles of the 9.3-mile Blue Line Extension project, part of the 1-percent-for-art program. Braaksma's work, one of 16 artist projects, is being installed in places where the light rail track must rise for a bridge, as here on North Tryon Street at the I-85 service road. Photo: Nancy Pierce

Pedestrian on temporary pedestrian path along North Tryon Street near University Pointe Boulevard. Photo: Nancy Pierce 6-11-15

With sidewalks uprooted, a pedestrian endures 95-degree heat, bright sun and dust on the temporary pedestrian path along North Tryon Street near University Pointe Boulevard. Photo: Nancy Pierce

Crane operator near Toby Creek at UNCC light rail construction. Photo: Nancy Pierce 6-11-15

At noon on a 95-degree day, a crane operator near Toby Creek on the UNC Charlotte campus takes a lunch break in the small spot of shade cast by the rig. Photo: Nancy Pierce

Bridge over Toby Creek on UNC Charlotte campus will be the longest of the light rail project. Photo: Nancy Pierce 6-11-15

The longest bridge of the whole 9.3-mile Blue Line Extension will be this one over Toby Creek on the UNC Charlotte campus. The BLE will terminate in a station near the Student Union. Photo: Nancy Pierce