Projects on northbound I-5 and SR 529 in Everett coordinating schedules to keep traveler options open

By Tom Pearce

We have a lot of work happening in Everett right now on both I-5 and SR 529. We’re working to make it as easy as we can on travelers by keeping the closures on separate days.

Both projects have significant northbound lane reductions.

• Our I-5 Marine View Drive project between Everett and Marysville reduces the northbound freeway to one lane. If the weather cooperates, we’ll do that the weekend of May 3-6. If weather is bad, it will be postponed until May 10-13.
• The SR 529 project reduces the northbound bridge to a single lane starting Monday, May 6, lasting about three weeks before the full northbound SR 529 Snohomish River Bridge closure starts Tuesday, May 28. That full closure will last about 4 months.

The northbound Snohomish River Bridge will be reduced to one lane starting May 6,
then fully close for four months on May 28.

The northbound Snohomish River Bridge will be reduced to one lane starting May 6, then fully close for four months on May 28.

Note that if weather requires us to work on I-5 on May 10-13, that means both I-5 and SR 529 will be reduced to one lane at the same time. We did look at scheduling the northbound I-5 closure in April, but with the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in full swing, there’s too much additional traffic to do that.

So we’re doing our best to keep these two closures from overlapping, and we want to complete work on both as soon as possible. Each will benefit people who travel through the area.

More HOV lane, new freeway ramps

The work on I-5 is one of our major projects, which will:

• Extend the HOV lane from downtown Everett to SR 529.
• Complete the I-5/SR 529 interchange by adding a northbound I-5 off-ramp to SR 529 and a southbound on-ramp from SR 529 to southbound I-5.
• Build a permanent median barrier between the northbound and southbound lanes.

The new median barrier is in place; the HOV extension and ramps will open in summer or fall 2025.

In addition to extending the HOV lane from Everett to SR 529, this project will add an off-ramp from northbound I-5 to SR 529 and an on-ramp from SR 529 to southbound I-5.

In addition to extending the HOV lane from Everett to SR 529, this project will add an off-ramp from northbound I-5 to SR 529 and an on-ramp from SR 529 to southbound I-5.

While northbound I-5 is reduced to one lane for a weekend, our contractor will replace asphalt pavement with concrete in a section between 41st Street and the Marine View Drive. It takes all weekend to remove the asphalt, then pour the concrete and let it harden.

Preserving a 97-year-old bridge

The northbound SR 529 Snohomish River Bridge was built in 1927. We need to repaint the bridge as well as make steel and mechanical repairs.

Part of the work on the northbound SR 529 Snohomish River Bridge includes removing the old paint and rust, the adding a new coat of paint.

Part of the work on the northbound SR 529 Snohomish River Bridge includes removing
the old paint and rust, the adding a new coat of paint.

Some of the work can be done with one northbound lane open, so that southbound isn’t affected. But once the paint containment system is in place we can’t move the bridge to raise or lower it. However, we also are required by the Coast Guard to keep that section of the Snohomish River open to large boats. That means we need to keep the bridge raised for the entire four months of this vital preservation work.

Each of these projects will help preserve our highways and bridges. Some short-term inconvenience will provide long-term benefits. We appreciate your patience.