Get to know the US 2 trestle system

By: Eric Zackula

We're back with another post in our blog series to breakdown the technical stuff in the US 2 Trestle Planning and Environmental Linkages study. This post picks up where our wellness check left off. In it, we'll take a closer look at the US 2 trestle.

First, let's get familiar with the study area. What we call the US 2 trestle is actually series of bridges and structures that connect communities across the Snohomish River and Ebey Island, traveling east and west. On the east side, you'll find Lake Stevens and Snohomish, with connections to State Routes 9 and 204 and local roads. On the west side, you'll find Everett and Marysville, with connections to the Interstate 5 corridor, SR 529 and local roads.

Expanded study area that includes the US 2 trestle and other connecting highways, including I-5

Now let's zoom in on the trestle system of structures and roadways across the Snohomish River and Ebey Island:

• Westbound trestle – consists of three bridge structures, with two travel lanes open to all and limited shoulder space.
• Eastbound trestle – consists of five bridge structures, with two travel lanes open to all and one right-side shoulder that is open to vehicles during peak times.
• Westside connections – I-5 ramps and interchanges to California and Walnut Streets, Hewitt Avenue
• Eastside connections – State Route 204 to the north, 20th Street Southeast to the east and US 2 to the south

The US 2 trestle system, including the westbound trestle, eastbound trestle, eastside connections, and westside connections

There are also some local structures and roadways within the trestle system. What's called the "lower roadway" is a split road that runs both directions just below the eastbound and westbound trestles. On the east end of Ebey Island, just before it crosses the Ebey Slough Bridge, it becomes one-way eastbound. Additionally, 20th Street Southeast is a one-way local street that runs beneath parts of US 2 and includes a bridge over Ebey Slough.

So how is this study different?

In past studies, we only looked at parts of the trestle system, but not the whole. The 2021 PEL study, for example, looked at the westbound trestle and the eastside connections. Not the connection to I-5. With the current PEL study, we are looking at improvements to both directions of the trestle. We are also looking at the connecting roads, highways, and trails for bicycles and pedestrians on both sides of the trestle.

As we described in the September blog, improvement concepts developed for Level 1 evaluation considered how people can move from east to west and west to east in cars, trucks, buses, bikes and even on foot. With the Level 1 results, we combined the best improvement concepts for the east side, west side and the trestle into system level alternatives. We are currently rating these alternatives in a more detailed, numbers-based way to see how well they are meeting the Purpose and Need, called the "Level 2 evaluation."

What's coming?

We plan to share the results of the Level 2 analysis with the public in early 2026. In the meantime, we'll be back with a November blog focused on car-less trestle crossings. This will be a look at how we are considering public transit and active transportation (think bicycling, walking or other non-vehicle forms of traveling) improvements in the current PEL study.

Please stay tuned for all this and more! To follow along with the study, consider signing up for the WSDOT Snohomish County Newsletter email updates. We also regularly update our study web page and document library.

Previous blogs

• Wellness Check on the US 2 Trestle Study - Sept. 5, 2025
• Updates on the new US 2 Trestle PEL study - Oct. 1, 2024

New traffic signals on SR 522 to open space for I-405 expansion in Bothell

By: Lauren Penning

UPDATE - Nov. 14, 2025: This post has been updated to reflect the new anticipated open date of the northbound I-405 ramp and signal turn on to Nov. 24. Also, when this new traffic configuration opens, there will be an additional lane added to the northbound I-405 ramp to eastbound SR 522 to address congestion for drivers headed to Woodinville.

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ORIGINAL: If you drive on State Route 522 near the I-405 Interchange in Bothell, get ready — some big changes are coming your way! Crews are making great progress on the I-405/Brickyard to SR 527 Improvement Project, and the next step is opening a new ramp and traffic signals to help make room for future improvements.

So far at the interchange, crews have built about 3,500 feet of walls along the hillside to support the I-405 expansion and the new northbound off-ramp to SR 522.

Construction progress on the new northbound I-405 off-ramp to SR 522 in October 2025. The ramp will carry traffic headed to eastbound and westbound SR 522.

What’s happening soon

Crews are about to turn on two new traffic signals on SR 522 and move traffic onto the new northbound off-ramp. Once traffic switches over, they’ll remove the old ramps and open up space in the middle of the interchange. Later on, that space will be used to add express toll lanes (ETLs) and new direct access ramps in both directions.

What drivers should know

We are almost ready to turn on the traffic signals. Crews need good weather to complete the remaining ramp build and striping to make the traffic switch as early as Nov. 24. Keep an eye out for new signs, lane lines, and traffic signals — things will look a little different!

Crews will add traffic signals at the I-405/SR522 interchange at two new intersections between Bothell and Woodinville.

How the new setup will work

If you’re coming from southbound I-405 to eastbound SR 522, you’ll turn right at a new traffic signal instead of just merging into eastbound SR 522 traffic.

• If you’re heading from eastbound SR 522 to northbound I-405, you’ll now turn left at a new traffic signal instead of using the old loop ramp.
• Drivers going from northbound I-405 to westbound SR 522 will also turn left at a new signal — replacing the old flyover ramp.
• If you’re going from northbound I-405 to eastbound SR 522, you’ll use the new ramp but still merge with traffic like you do now.
• For drivers who experience congestion heading east to Woodinville, when the new northbound ramp opens there will be an additional lane on the ramp heading eastbound to SR 522.

Everything else at the interchange will stay pretty much the same.

Expect slower traffic at first

When the new traffic signals and ramps first open, things might move a little slower while drivers get used to the changes. Also, crews will still be finishing construction, so there will only be two lanes open on eastbound SR 522 and one fewer lane on the northbound off-ramp. Crews will focus on building out the roadway and ramp in the next few weeks. This will add capacity so drivers will see an improvement soon.

Once the full project is done in 2028, there will be three traffic signals along SR 522. The third and final signal will connect traffic directly to the new express toll lanes.

Why add traffic signals?

It might seem strange to add signals near a freeway, but this design actually helps save budget and time. This design configuration allows the project to keep much of the existing bridges and roadway helping to minimize cost. The decision was made after many discussions about tradeoffs and close coordination with our partners including the City of Bothell and Sound Transit.

The new signals will be timed to work together, so traffic should keep moving with very little waiting. Even during rush hour, we expect the new setup to add only about a minute to your trip on SR 522.

We know this is a big change, but it’s a good one! Once everything’s complete, the improvements will make travel more efficient for drivers, transit riders, and everyone moving through the area.

What’s coming next

Looking ahead, in January 2026, crews plan to remove the old flyover and loop ramps. That work will require two weekend closures of SR 522 and two weekend closures of I-405 near the interchange. We’ll share more updates as those dates get closer. 

Behind the scenes of Workman Wednesday

By: Lauren Padgett

Every day, WSDOT’s Incident Response Team patrols highways, clearing crashes, helping stranded drivers and keeping traffic moving safely. Most of the time, their work goes unnoticed – unless something goes wrong. But on a recent Wednesday, the flashing lights and sirens were out for a different reason: to give a curious 4-year-old named MJ a closer look at what they do.

MJ, who lives with his family in Yelm, is on a mission to meet “workmans” of all kinds – like plumbers, electricians and construction workers. His mom, Jessica Lee, shares them on TikTok series called “Workman Wednesday.”

4-year-old MJ Lee is interested in meeting "workmans" of all kinds, and was interested in learning about how Incident Response Teams help drivers on the road.

A former communications manager for WSDOT follows Lee’s TikTok account and suggested that WSDOT reach out for a collaboration. When he was approached by the social media team, Northwest Region IRT superintendent Dennis Smith knew it was an opportunity to highlight IRT, who perform a critical service.

“Statewide, IRT spends most of their day handling unpleasant situations ranging from helping driver’s who have run out of gas or need their tire changed, to complex fatality collisions, of which our IRT are often first on scene. They are interacting with the public on one of their worst, if not the worst, day of their lives,” Smith said. “Having the opportunity for my team to interact with this youngster reminded us of why we all got into this profession to begin with: to do our best to provide safe passage and ensure the members of our community and beyond get to where they are going.”

IRT drivers Brian Downing, Michael Hedquist and Justin Backes, gave MJ a tour of their trucks. They showed him how to talk on the dispatch radio and how the lights, sirens and loudspeakers work. They even showed him how they use sand to clean up after a spill, drag a chain and put gas in a car.

Watch MJ's "Workman Wednesday" on TikTok!

“These are hardworking people who don’t get the same recognition that others get, and we appreciate the jobs you don’t see or know much about,” said Lee.

For a child fascinated by “workman” jobs, it was a dream come true, and for the NWR IRT, it was a sweet way to share a meaningful message.

From left, Dennis Smith, Brian Downing, MJ Lee, Justin Backes and Michael Hedquist pose in front of the IRT trucks.

“IRT is a special breed, and responding to a collision or disabled vehicle in the center lane is not for the faint of heart. My entire crew means something to someone. We all do,” Smith said. “So slow down, move over and let us do what we do, so we can continue to ensure that we get people like MJ and his mom out of a travel lane and to a safe location or on their way.”

WSDOT social media manager Rachel Terlep said that participating in MJ’s “Workman Wednesday” series was a way to help share the IRT story with more people.

WSDOT NWR IRT Superintendent Dennis Smith fixes 4-year-old MJ Lee's hat as he gets ready to tour the Incident Response trucks for "workman Wednesday."

“We talk about our crews’ great work all the time, but this collaboration was unique. People expect WSDOT to praise its own crews, but when that message comes from someone they already recognize, it carries more authenticity and impact,” said Terlep.

In all, this simple meet-and-greet reached over 160,000 views online, through WSDOT and Lee’s social media posts.

“This is delightful! And many thanks to the IRT for helping me when I was in an accident on busy I-5 in the dark! It is dangerous work but so appreciated,” one user wrote.

Other viewers agreed.

“I love how these guys are taking the time to show him everything. Thank you, Washington State DOT! We love you and appreciate you, and we learned a lot! WSDOT Incident Response are like superheroes ... my heart needed this today.”

Preparing for winter: How maintenance crews gear up for snow and ice season

By: Tina Werner

Just as you might prepare your home for colder weather, our maintenance crews and mechanics are busy getting ready for winter. Our mechanics service more than 500 snowplows, 141 loaders, 20 snowblowers and five tow plows across the state. Our crews use this equipment to support safe and reliable travel.

A mechanic at our Wenatchee shop repairs a snowblower prior to the winter season.

Each winter, about 1,500 employees are directly involved in snow and ice operations across state highways. That includes several mountain passes. They order equipment, replace worn parts and prepare trucks for the rugged season ahead. They complete Commercial Driver’s License training. Before winter starts, they coordinate with fellow first responders like law enforcement partners, fire departments and tow truck operators in their communities. But even with all this preparation, we still need your help to keep roads safe. You can help by planning ahead and being prepared for winter driving conditions.

Mechanics at our Wenatchee shop service several trucks prior to the winter season.

 A mechanic in Union Gap completes repairs to a truck, ensuring its ready for the winter ahead.

Mountain pass closures and priority routes

Mountain pass closures happen every winter for a variety of reasons. Those might include spinouts, crashes, unprepared drivers, avalanche control operations or unsafe weather conditions that prevent crews from safely clearing the road. When this happens, Incident Response, maintenance crews, tow operators and other first responders work together to clear the road. Please give them room to work safely and expect delays. Larger crashes may require specialized tow equipment, which increases response and closure times. If a spill occurs, cleanup can take even longer. Everyone can do their part to keep passes and roadways open. This includes updating your travel plans if closures occur and staying up to date using WSDOT’s tools.

 A driver lost control of a semi on Interstate 90 in March 2025. The crash resulted in an extended closure of I-90 in both directions from North Bend to Ellensburg while specialized tow trucks removed the crashed vehicles.

As we do every winter, crews will “swarm to the storm”. That means moving available resources to highest affected or priority routes during storms. As always, we prioritize our work based on by safety, available resources and pre-existing priority routes. Our crews focus on clearing major interstates first. Then we clear roadways for the largest number of travelers. Finally, crews move down to less frequently traveled roadways and shared use paths.

Follow tire chains and traction tire notices

When weather conditions require tire chains, it’s for everyone’s safety. Unfortunately, we often see pass closures caused by drivers who ignore chain-up signs and then lose control. Just one unprepared driver can close the pass for everyone. Failing to install chains when posted can result in a fine of up to $500. While our agency does not issue tickets, we partner with the Washington State Patrol to help enforce these requirements. If you’re unsure about your vehicle’s performance or your comfort level driving in snow, consider waiting to travel until conditions improve. There’s no shame in waiting out a storm.

Crew members teach fellow employees the correct way to install tire chains on our heavy equipment in Wenatchee.

Where is the plow?

If you see a section of roadway with no plows, they are likely tandem plowing on another route or plowing the road in other locations. Each plow covers between 40 and 100 miles of highway and typically travels 25 to 35 mph while operating. During severe storms, plows and other equipment are often shifted between areas to increase response in the most affected regions. Please be patient, drive smart and never pass a plow unless you have a clear and safe opportunity to do so.

A crew tandem plows State Route 16 in Tacoma. Tandem plowing is a method where multiple snowplows operate in a staggered formation to clear several lanes of a roadway simultaneously.

Training and preparation

The safety of both crews and the traveling public is our top priority. If conditions prevent crews from safely keeping a road open, we will close it to protect everyone. Crews have completed additional winter training and prep, including temporary equipment installations and refresher exercises. All this training and prep means they’re prepared when the first winter storm hits.

Crews participated in material calibration training in Chehalis. An outside expert from FORCE led the October training, providing guidance to three separate crews on proper techniques and data collection.

A group of trucks line up for a winter training course day in Monroe. The exercise combined hands on and classroom curriculum to prepare crews for winter.

Do your part to prepare for winter travel

Our crews are doing their part, but we need the public’s help too to keep highways open and safe.

We ask travelers to:

1. Be prepared for possible delays and ensure you carry appropriate winter travel gear.
2. Stay informed. Check weather and conditions before you leave and during travel as winter weather changes quickly – if you are driving, never check from behind the wheel, pull over to a safe spot or ask a passenger to check. Use WSODT’s tools to stay informed of conditions and possible closures.
3. Carry chains. Requiring chains in certain conditions allows travelers to continue moving during storms rather than closing a pass or roadway. If you haven’t before, look into getting chains or traction alternatives recommended for your vehicle. Practice installing chains at home or driveway. You do not want to install chains for your first time along the side of a highway during a winter storm.
4. Always expect winter travel conditions. Drive knowing and expecting that snow and ice conditions could be present. Roads that appear wet could be black ice.
5. Even if you don’t see them, our crews are out there. Plows must travel slowly to safely clear roads. Our maintenance crews often work on alternate routes or sections of highway to reach bare and wet conditions. Our crews take great pride in their work and many live in the communities where they serve.

A mechanic poses in front of a vintage WSDOT truck in 1972 near our Preston maintenance shed.