MARYSVILLE — The end is near for one I-5 construction project in north Snohomish County, but a new one lurks in the wings.

Road crews once again plan to close lanes during the next two weekends as they finish replacing expansion joints on northbound bridges leading through Marysville. The work typically creates backups of five miles and sometimes longer.

Northbound I-5 through the work area will be reduced to two narrow lanes Saturday and Sunday, and the onramp from Highway 529 also will be closed.

Those delays are scheduled for what weather forecasters are predicting will be the hottest day of 2016 so far.

Workers have been replacing 41 aging expansion joints on the Union Slough, Steamboat Slough and Ebey Slough bridges as part of a $5.3 million project. Some expansion joints are so large that they can only be replaced on weekends when crews can get enough space to chip out the concrete toward the center of the bridges to remove the joints, install new ones, pour new concrete and let it cure 12 hours.

“We are so close,” said Lisa Van Cise, a spokeswoman with the state Department of Transportation.

By contract, the work must be completed by June 16.

At some point, perhaps beginning in late June or July, repaving will be done at night on northbound I-5 between Highway 531 and the Stillaguamish Bridge.

It’s a stretch used by 85,000 cars and trucks each day.

“The pavement is cracked and rutted,” Van Cise said.

Asphalt repairs have been made, but the last time it was repaved was more than 20 years ago.

On- and offramps to Highway 530 and the Smokey Point rest stop to southbound I-5 also are scheduled for repaving.

The work will be done at night, except Fridays. At times, I-5 will be reduced to one lane in each direction. The $2.7 million project will require removing two inches of asphalt, so drivers should expect rougher roadways while different sections are repaired.

Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com.