Overnight closures for Highway 529 bridge; daytime delays for U.S. 2
Published 12:09 am Sunday, July 25, 2010
Prepare for periods of sluggish traffic and closed lanes near Marysville and Sultan next week as state road projects move forward.
Work on a three-year, $50 million project to replace the aging swing-span bridge over Ebey Slough is expected to result in overnight lane closures on Highway 529 between Everett and Marysville.
At the same time, drivers traveling between Sultan and Gold Bar on U.S. 2 can expect about two weeks of daytime delays as Washington Department of Transportation crews repair the highway’s pavement.
Starting Monday on U.S. 2, flaggers will alternate one-way traffic from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. so road crews can fix pavement. The work is weather- dependent, scheduled to run Monday through Thursday and should wrap up by Aug. 5.
The larger undertaking on Highway 529 will replace the 85-year-old swing-span bridge over Ebey Slough. On the current bridge, a middle section pivots to let boats pass underneath, typically delaying traffic about 10 minutes.
The replacement bridge will be a taller, four-lane fixed span. Its design includes two lanes in each direction, as well as bicycle lanes and sidewalks on each side.
Crews with contractor Granite Construction, headquartered in Watsonville, Calif., broke ground last week.
The Ebey Slough bridge is the fourth-oldest state-owned bridge in Washington. About 17,000 drivers use it daily.
The replacement is necessary, state officials say, because the bridge is nearing the end of its service life. With the replacement, the state can avoid costly repairs to the aging structure. It also will eliminate the need for staff to operate the moveable bridge.
Learn more
For info on construction-related road closures in the county, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/ Northwest/Snohomish/ Construction.
