MONROE – Beginning Friday, crews working for the state Department of Transportation are scheduled to shift traffic from one side of the highway to the other on Highway 522 south of Monroe as part of an ongoing widening project.
The transition will occur over a half-mile stretch. Drivers heading northeast toward Monroe will begin shifting to the left shortly after crossing over the Snohomish River Bridge. Travelers headed southwest, away from town, will begin moving to the right just west of the 179th Avenue SE Bridge. Traffic barrels and concrete barrier will help direct drivers onto the new lanes.
To complete the shift, crews plan to close both directions of Highway 522 between U.S. 2 and Fales/Echo Lake roads overnight from 10 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday. Drivers may take alternate routes or follow a detour via U.S. 2 and Highway 9. In addition, three ramps are planned for closure: the U.S. 2 ramp to westbound Highway 522; the 164th Street SE-West Main Street ramps to both directions of Highway 522, and the Fales/Echo Lake roads ramp to eastbound Highway 522.
Shifting the traffic will enable crews to complete roadway repairs and drainage work on the other side, according to the transportation department. Work on the new Snohomish River Bridge will continue throughout the winter.
Work on the $128.8 million widening project and new bridge is expected to wrap up late this year.
The new four-lane divided highway will feature six new bridges, a center median to separate eastbound and westbound traffic, new lighting, drainage and stormwater treatment ponds.
For more project information and photos visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR522/Widen/SnoRiver_US2/.
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