Video: After a good start, weekend trestle work continues
Published 1:30 am Friday, July 20, 2018
EVERETT — Despite all the warnings, traffic, for the most part, flowed smoothly last weekend around the U.S. 2 trestle after crews began repaving the westbound lanes, according to the state Department of Transportation.
There were some delays Saturday morning because of police activity in the area, said Ally Barrera, a spokeswoman for the agency. And at times the additional vehicles using Highway 9 caused about a one-mile backup, but traffic kept moving.
“It seemed that a lot of people planned ahead. Now we need them to do it again for this weekend,” Barrera said. “We don’t want people to get complacent, and hopefully things will go smoothly once again.”
The second weekend of work is scheduled to start Friday night, if the weather holds. The westbound lanes on the trestle are set to close 7 p.m. Friday, reopening 4 a.m. Monday.
Crews need a rain-free weekend to lay the waterproof material that protects the concrete bridge deck.
“If it gets wet it won’t adhere the same way,” Barrera said.
Asphalt then is placed on top of the waterproof layer. Barrera said this was the same method that was used when the bridge was built in 1968.
Other waterproof overlays could have been used that don’t need a dry environment, she said. But those would have been more expensive and lengthened the construction timeline. And the other options are more rigid and are more likely to crack.
When work starts this weekend, the westbound trestle will be closed, with a one-lane detour on 20th Street below the bridge. Crews are replacing expansion joints and repaving the roadway.
Drivers are urged to stay home, carpool, plan for delays or find alternate routes.
The last weekend closure for the summer is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 7. through the 10th.
“As long as the weather continues to be awesome like it has been, we will finish up early September,” Barrera said.
The agency does have a few backup weekends planned for late September if needed.
Lizz Giordano: 425-374-4165; egiordano@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @lizzgior.
