LYNNWOOD – Was it easier to get into Lynnwood today?
As of Thursday, April 24, a new southbound I-5 offramp at 196th Street SW allows drivers to loop around congestion on their way to Alderwood Mall and other areas.
Instead of having to veer to the right and then make an awkward left turn, traffic exiting from southbound I-5 will now loop under 196th Street making for an easier right turn to eastbound 196th and access to Alderwood Mall and other areas.
“Obviously, we’re excited about any changes that improve access from I-5,” said Tamera Wachter, senior marketing director for Alderwood Mall. “Access to the mall isn’t very good right now, so anything that helps is a good thing.”
However, for awhile at least , things could be tougher for drivers turning west onto 196th Street. For the next eight months all traffic must use the new loop ramp, forcing westbound traffic to make a left turn across traffic at a temporary stoplight.
“We need to close the road to rebuild the ramp safely,” said Dave Lindberg, state project engineer.
Plans are to finish the westbound ramp by the end of the year, completing the $6.4 million project that started last summer.
“This is an excellent example of WSDOT trying to minimize the impact on the traveling public,” said Bill Vlcek, Lynnwood public works director. “WSDOT’s work is the culmination of a 10 year partnership with Lynnwood to rebuild the 196th Street exit and improve the flow of traffic to and through the city.”
Opening the new loop ramp is expected to significantly improve safety on southbound I-5 by reducing the length of the backups that routinely spill onto the freeway at that exit, Lindberg said. Such backups are expected to go away entirely when the new westbound ramp opens by the end of the year.
Lukas Velush is a reporter from the Herald in Everett. Shannon Sessions, editor of the Lynnwood/Mountlake Terrace Enterprise, contributed to this article.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
