Anyone who regularly drives southbound I-5 through Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace is in for a smoother ride.
Preparatory work begins today on a project to repave this rough-and-rutted, 2-mile stretch of aging asphalt over the summer.
The $5.36 million work includes repaving the freeway from 52nd Avenue W. in Lynnwood to the Highway 104 exit at the King-Snohomish county line. Crews plan also to repave on- and offramps at Highway 104, 236th Street SW and 220th Street SW.
Crews plan to replace sidewalk sections and curbs at these ramps beginning today and start the paving work later this summer.
The drawback will be some weeknight closures of lanes in both directions and ramps during construction.
In addition to repaving, crews with Granite Construction of Watsonville, Calif., will add reflective lane markings to improve visibility. Work is expected to be finished by this fall.
Bob Stanaway Lake Stevens writes: I frequently travel Highway 92, just east of Highway 9 in Lake Stevens. A recent pavement patch job left a big dip on the left side of the eastbound lane. Being in paving for 30 years I can see no reason for it, except maybe for keeping me awake when I hit it on the way home from work. The dip is just west of 99th Avenue NE, where I have to take a left turn.
Dave Chesson, a spokesman for the state Department of Transportation, responds: Bob is correct, there is actually a small dip at this location near Stevens Creek, which has been caused by minor settling of the roadway. We put in a patch, but that was quite a while ago and further settling has occurred.
This summer our maintenance crews will grind and pave a larger area of both lanes. Smoother and longer-lasting asphalt repairs can only be done when it is warm and dry. Our work this summer should fix the dip and improve the ride for drivers.
County public works provides behind-the-scenes look: Beginning today, the public can get an unusual peek at roadwork and the many other jobs performed by the Snohomish County public works department.
Starting today, the county public works Flickr page is posting a four-day photo essay to showcase the work crews do throughout the year. Photos will feature a different division each day: road maintenance, solid waste, surface water management, engineering and transportation and environmental services. The page is located at www.flickr.com/snocopublicworks.
In addition to roadwork, crews handle all kinds of low-profile work around the county, from stormwater retention ponds to credit card payments at transfer stations.
The photo essay is posted in honor of National Public Works Week from May 19-23, sponsored by the American Public Works Association. The annual event began in 1960 to celebrate the contribution public works departments make to their local communities. For more information go to http://tinyurl.com/a89fgw5.
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