EVERETT – A new I-5 ramp at Everett Mall Way and an interchange at Hardeson Road and the Boeing freeway are among the new projects the city has put on its long-term transportation plan.
The City Council will vote on the plan at its Friday morning meeting.
The plan includes 64 projects that would together cost more than a billion dollars. It’s really a wish list, because the city probably won’t procure enough federal, state and local money to get most of the projects started during the 2005-10 timeline of the plan, said Brian Jones, engineering services manager.
But it’s a good peek at the roadwork residents might see in coming years.
The top priority on the city’s list of freeway-related improvements remains a $230 million plan to widen I-5. The project, scheduled to begin in 2006, is to add northbound and southbound carpool lanes from the Boeing freeway north to U.S. 2, and an all-purpose lane from 41st Street SE to U.S. 2.
The highest priority for arterial streets is to widen 19th Avenue SE between 112th Street SE and 132nd Street SE. It is now two lanes, with a center turn lane at some points. The city wants to widen that to four lanes, with a continuous center lane and bicycle lanes. Construction is scheduled to begin later this summer.
Another priority is the $18 million 41st Street bridge over Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway tracks.
City officials believe the overpass will help spur development of the old Simpson mill site and the former landfill along the Snohomish River. Construction began in May 2001 but was halted because of a lawsuit by environmental groups and the Tulalip Tribes. The lawsuit was settled in April, and the bridge is expected to be finished by summer 2005.
Projects that are new to the list this year include:
* A new ramp from northbound Everett Mall Way to southbound I-5. The new onramp would be just after Everett Mall a few blocks south of the current ramp. That would help unclog the busy intersection of Highway 526 and Everett Mall Way and save drivers’ time, Jones said.
* A Boeing freeway interchange on Hardeson Road. There are already interchanges about a half-mile east on Evergreen Way and a half-mile west on 20th Avenue W. A new exit will be necessary because “as southwest Everett continues to develop, we’ll need greater access for industrial and commercial traffic,” Jones said.
* Enhanced landscaping, decorative lighting and new signage and other streetscaping along arterials.
* A pedestrian railroad overpass at the end of Pigeon Creek Road in Forest Park to connect with a planned walkway along Possession Sound.
Reporter David Olson: 425-339-3452 or dolson@heraldnet.com.
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