Everett, Wash.
Published: Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Commute home through Snohomish County looks grim

Major problems on Highway 522 near county line, Seattle Hill near Lowell Larimer Road

By Lukas Velush
Herald Writer

 The west-to-east commute home in Snohomish County could slow to a crawl this afternoon, transportation officials are warning.

A lane on eastbound Highway 522 remains closed just south of the county line, and it may not open until this evening, said Erin Bogenschutz, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation. Flooding on Monday carved away a large section of the highway's shoulder.

To the north, Seattle Hill Road is closed as traffic engineers scramble to figure out how to fix a blown out culvert. Repairs are expected to take at least four weeks. It is the biggest long-term transportation problem created by flooding in Snohomish and King counties, said Janice Fahning, a transportation department engineer.

During a typical evening commute, up to 1,900 vehicles per hour travel eastbound on Highway 522 towards Monroe.

When you squeeze that traffic down to one lane, there will be delays, Bogenschutz said.

“They're working to fill in the section of road so that they can fix for the evening commute,” she said. “We’re trying our best to get it open by 4 p.m., but there’s no guarantee.”

Urban flooding left a 60-foot long gash on the shoulder of the road. In places, high water ate away parts of the shoulder 8 feet wide and 5 feet deep.

Fahning said the Seattle Hill Road damage is especially troublesome because it could take weeks to fix. An estimated 9,000 drivers use the roadway each day.

Cathcart Way is a good detour that will only add 10 minutes, said Meghan Soptich, a DOT spokeswoman.

She said most drivers take Seattle Hill Road because it’s slightly more direct route and because it has less stop lights.

A motorcycle driver drove past the barriers and drove across the road this morning.

There is a hole under the roadway that is at least 25 feet deep and growing as more water works under the roadway and the damaged culvert.

“We really want to stress to drivers that, although it looks like only part of the shoulder is gone, there’s a hole under the road that goes all the way to the centerline,” Soptich said.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA