Marysville begins construction of First Street bypass

MARYSVILLE — Demolition has started along First Street where the city plans to expand the two-lane road into a bypass of up to five lanes.

The bypass would handle traffic from a new I-5 interchange at Highway 529. First Street is to be widened from State to 47th avenues.

The city earlier this month finalized more than $12 million in financing through municipal bonds for the project. The goal is to start construction next year so it will be done by 2022, in time to alleviate traffic from the new interstate connection.

Over the past couple of years, the city has purchased nearly a dozen properties along First Street. One residential property remains in court proceedings for eminent domain. A hearing scheduled for June 5 was canceled, but the city expects the process to be complete by the end of the year, said Gloria Hirashima, the city’s chief administrative officer.

Meanwhile, the design, engineering and permitting work continues, she said. Some of the buildings in the path of the bypass are being torn down. Earlier this month, city leaders voted to surplus property there, allowing people to claim objects such as doors or window frames. Otherwise, the city would have to pay for disposal.

“We are starting to do some demolition work on the block, and clean-up work,” Hirashima said.

Residents in some of the houses bought by the city were allowed to continue living there, as work wasn’t starting right away, Hirashima said. Several have moved out.

A commercial property, formerly a car lot at the corner of First and State, has been cleared.

Farther east on First, there still are slivers of land the city needs to acquire Hirashima said. None are as large as the commercial and residential lots on the block near State, she said.

Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.