Three US 2 repaving projects could bring lengthy delays

EVERETT — Entering another busy construction season for Snohomish County, drivers should check Washington State Department of Transportation’s work schedule before heading out — or risk lengthy delays.

Four projects will bring road closures or lane reductions. No dates have been set, though the state tries to avoid holidays and weekends with big events, such as the Evergreen State Fair. Many closures are weather dependent.

Detours and closures will be posted at bit.ly/Snoho2019.

U.S. 2 trestle

The U.S. 2 trestle project, familiar to many, is back again. After several postponements last year due to rain, WSDOT wasn’t able to finish work on westbound U.S. 2 from the I-5 interchange in Everett to Bickford Avenue, including the trestle. To complete the project, six rain-free weekends were needed, but crews only got four last summer.

Workers will be popping up the existing asphalt and inspecting, repairing and replacing as they go segment by segment along the highway, said Frances Fedoriska, a spokesperson for WSDOT.

Four days of dry weather is essential to ensure the waterproof material that protects the concrete bridge deck adheres properly.

Two weekend closures, from 7 p.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Monday, are planned for this year. The earliest could occur in June, Fedoriska said.

Once again WSDOT is urging westbound drivers to alter plans for these last two closures.

Last year, there were really big backups on the route, Fedoriska said.

Detours will take drivers to Highway 9, onto Highway 528 and then connect them with I-5 in Marysville. Or travelers will be directed to use southbound Highway 9.

U.S. 2 from Bickford Avenue to Gold Bar

This work picks up where the previous project ends.

All lanes are being repaved on U.S. 2 from Bickford Avenue to the eastern edge of Monroe. This work will be done at night and will reduce the road to one lane.

Medians, ranging from 4 to 6-feet wide, are also being added along that corridor. From Monroe to Gold Bar, pavement markers will be placed between the lanes.

And crews will be working on the Pilchuck River Bridge, which will reduce the bridge to one lane for up to two weekends.

With no good alternative route, the bridge work will be the most disruptive, Fedoriska said.

“This is going to cause tremendous back-ups on U.S. 2,” she said. “People will be sitting on U.S. 2 waiting for their turn to cross the bridge.”

U.S. 2 resurfacing near Index and Skykomish

The last of the U.S. 2 projects: WSDOT crews will be resurfacing two 3-mile sections of the road near Index and Skykomish.

This work will be done in five stages — road repair, crack sealing, surface preservation, final sealant and striping — requiring the road to be reduced to one lane.

Drivers should prepare for 20-minute delays for most of this, but stoppages of 45 minutes or more could occur during some phases of the project, likely in July or August.

Highway 9 roundabout

A roundabout will be installed at Highway 9 and 108th Street NE in north Marysville. The height of the hill on 108th heading to Highway 9 will also be reduced to lengthen driver’s sight line approaching the intersection.

“This was supposed to happen last year, but a comedy of errors prevented it from happening, including a union strike,” Fedoriska said.

WSDOT is planning three weekend closures for this project: two at the intersection of Highway 9 and 108th and one along 108th between 87th Avenue NE and the highway. Additional nighttime lane reductions will also be needed to complete the project.

Detour routes will be set up for all closures.

Got a question? Email me at streetsmarts@heraldnet.com or call 425-374-4165. Please include your name and city of residence.