EVERETT — The Department of Ecology expects to start cleanup in the coming weeks along the Snohomish River to remove heavy metals left there by the Everett smelter. The work will affect traffic around the interchange at Highway 529 and E. Marine View Drive.

The cleanup must be done because the chemicals are polluting groundwater that feeds into the Snohomish River, according to the state.

The work will be completed in two phases and is expected to last three to four months. It is tentatively set to begin mid-August.

For both phases, the off-ramp from northbound Highway 529 onto E. Marine View will be closed.

During the first phase, E. Marine View will be closed to through traffic. The only access to northbound Highway 529 will be from southbound E. Marine View.

To reach the Riverside Business Park, drivers will have to use the northbound lanes of E. Marine View Drive. And when exiting, drivers will not be able to access the on-ramp to the northbound highway.

Closures will differ slightly for the second phase.

Drivers are encouraged to avoid the area. When traveling south, the state suggests drivers use Broadway and 19th Street as a bypass. And northbound drivers should take 16th Street and Broadway.

Several methods will be used, including soil removal. In some areas, the agency will cover the contaminated soil with clean material that prevents rainwater from soaking in.

The smelter operated from 1894 to 1912 near the intersection of N. Broadway and E. Marine View Drive.

The contamination was discovered nearly three decades ago. Many in the Delta neighborhood are still awaiting cleanup as funds for the work run low.

Everett received $44 million from a court settlement to pay for remediation work. The Department of Ecology is using $10 million from that settlement for the efforts along the Snohomish River.

The agency also has plans to remediate two parks, Viola Oursler Viewpoint and Wiggums Hollow. That work is scheduled to begin after Labor Day.

Lizz Giordano: 425-374-4165; egiordano@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @lizzgior.