Plans to provide relief for Highway 9 congestion in Clearview

CLEARVIEW — New lanes, changes in red-light timing and an extended turn lane are being considered to ease traffic on Highway 9 south of Snohomish.

The state Department of Transportation has three proposals to reduce backups on the three-mile stretch between 176th Street SE and Highway 96. None would be a long-term fix, WSDOT spokeswoman Kris Olsen said.

“This is going to provide limited congestion relief, but we’re not going to solve it until we can widen (the highway),” she said.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

An open house is scheduled for Wednesday to gather public feedback on the possible projects. It’s set from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Glacier Peak High School, 7401 144th Place SE.

Eventually, the goal is to widen the highway from three lanes to four through Clearview. There would be a raised center median with marked U-turn locations. Currently, that stretch has one lane going north and two south.

Since 2000, the state has put nearly $300 million toward improving traffic and safety on Highway 9, which connects a number of once-rural communities that now are suburbs. The highway already has been widened south and north of Clearview, leaving those three miles as the “missing link,” according to WSDOT.

The state has set aside money for design and right-of-way, but not for construction. The entire project is expected to cost $67 million, and $50 million of that still is needed, Olsen said. There’s no timeline for the widening.

However, one of three short-term projects could be done in the next few years, she said. Costs range from $1.2 million to $3 million, which would be pulled from right-of-way funds.

Two options involve adding a second northbound lane along part of the stretch. The start date for either would be summer 2018.

One proposal would add a lane from 176th to 164th streets, pushing back the point where drivers merge from two lanes to one, Olsen said. Traffic tends to be lighter farther north. Workers would remove left turn lanes at 168th Street, making the intersection right turn only.

A second possibility would add a lane from 168th to 156th streets. Northbound drivers would merge from two lanes to one at 176th, then have two lanes at 168th before a second merge at 156th. Workers would not remove left turn lanes.

“It would create somewhat of an hourglass effect, and the second merge could create some frustrations for drivers,” Olsen said.

The third option would change red-light timings and could be done this year. Currently, drivers on 164th Street at its intersection with the highway get two green light shifts. Eastbound traffic is stopped while westbound traffic has a green light, and vice versa. WSDOT has proposed making the light green for both directions on 164th at the same time. Traffic on the highway would be controlled by a red light then.

WSDOT found that during peak hours, about 150 drivers turn left onto the highway off 164th while five go straight through the intersection. Left turns would not have to wait much, Olsen said. The result would be fewer green lights for 164th Street and more green lights on Highway 9. Left turn lanes could be added on 164th Street as soon as this summer.

No matter which option is chosen, WSDOT plans to lengthen the northbound left turn lane from Highway 9 onto Cathcart Way by 180 feet, hopefully reducing how often cars waiting to turn block the main highway.

As rural areas along Highway 9 are developed into suburbs, traffic is expected to increase, Olsen said. More than 25,000 cars use the highway through Clearview each day.

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

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Aaron Weinstock uses an x-ray machine toy inside the Imagine Children Museum on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Imagine Children’s Museum $250k grant reinstated following federal court order

The federal grant supports a program that brings free science lessons to children throughout rural Snohomish County.

Snohomish County 911 Executive Director Kurt Mills talks about the improvements made in the new call center space during a tour of the building on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New 911 center in Everett built to survive disaster

The $67.5 million facility brings all emergency staff under one roof with seismic upgrades, wellness features and space to expand.

Everett
Five arrested in connection with Everett toddler’s 2024 overdose death

More than a year after 13-month-old died, Everett police make arrests in overdose case.

Madison Family Shelter Family Support Specialist Dan Blizard talks about one of the pallet homes on Monday, May 19, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Madison Family Shelter reopens after hiatus

The Pallet shelter village, formerly Faith Family Village, provides housing for up to eight families for 90 days.

Helion's 6th fusion prototype, Trenta, on display on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Helion celebrates smoother path to fusion energy site approval

Helion CEO applauds legislation signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson expected to streamline site selection process.

Everett Historic Theater owner Curtis Shriner inside the theater on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Historic Everett Theatre sale on horizon, future uncertain

With expected new ownership, events for July and August will be canceled. The schedule for the fall and beyond is unclear.

Traffic moves north and south along the southbound side of the Highway 529 after the northbound lanes were closed due to a tunnel on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Southbound 529 to close near Marysville for four days for bridge work

WSDOT said the 24-hour-a-day closure is necessary to allow contractors to perform work on the aging Steamboat Slough Bridge.

The Edmonds City Council gathers to discuss annexing into South County Fire on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Community group presents vision for Edmonds’ fiscal future

Members from Keep Edmonds Vibrant suggested the council focus on revenue generation and a levy lid lift to address its budget crisis.

People listen as the Marysville School Board votes to close an elementary and a middle school in the 2025-26 school year while reconfiguring the district’s elementary schools to a K-6 model on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Marysville schools audit shows some improvement

Even though the district still faces serious financial problems, the findings are a positive change over last year, auditors said.

The Washington state Capitol on April 18. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)
‘I’m pretty upset’: WA lawmaker wants to override governor’s veto of his bill

State lawmakers delivered 423 bills to Gov. Bob Ferguson this year and… Continue reading

Ellis Johnson, 16, left, and brother Garrett Johnson, 13, take a breather after trying to find enough water to skim board on without sinking into the sand during opening day of Jetty Island on Friday, July 5, 2019 in Everett, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Epic ways to spice up your summer

Your ultimate guide to adventure, fun and reader-approved favorites!

Sarah and Cole Rinehardt, owners of In The Shadow Brewing, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In The Shadow Brewing: From backyard brews to downtown cheers

Everything seems to have fallen into place at the new taproom location in downtown Arlington

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.