Date:
Friday, December 09, 2005
Contact:
Amir Ahmadi, Project Engineer, (425) 225-8700 (Everett)
Travis Phelps, Public Information Officer, (206) 440-4470(Seattle)
SEATTLE - Some Arlington residents may be surprised at what they see as they drive to work today. At 4:51 a.m. this morning, WSDOT and its contractor Graham Construction opened all six lanes of the new Smokey Point Bridge (172nd Street) to traffic.
"WSDOT expected to open all six lanes on the bridge to traffic by February of next year," said Project Engineer Amir Ahmadi. "Thanks to fast and efficient work by our contractor, and favorable weather conditions, crews were able to open the new bridge to traffic almost two months ahead of schedule."
However, we’re still not finished improving this interchange. Drivers will see crews actively working throughout the winter months to install sidewalks, landscaping and placing permanent roadway striping. Drivers can also expect nighttime lane closures on I-5 as crews work to remove the remaining temporary bridge supports
Next Monday, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Congressman Rick Larsen, WSDOT, Graham Construction and other state and local lawmakers will celebrate our latest effort to improve traffic and safety in one of the fastest growing communities in the state. The ribbon cutting ceremony takes place at 11:30 a.m., Monday, December 12 at the Hawthorn Inn and Suites, 16710 Smokey Point Blvd. in Arlington.
In April, WSDOT demolished the old two-lane bridge that spanned Interstate 5 at 172nd Street in Smokey Point near Arlington. In its place they built a taller, wider six-lane bridge including two westbound left-turn lanes to southbound I-5 to improve growing traffic flow and safety problems in the area. To keep traffic moving during construction WSDOT allowed drivers to use the bridge’s completed north half while crews built the remaining south half, which gave drivers one lane in each direction and ramp access to I-5.
The bridge is part of a larger project to improve the entire interchange as a way to reduce congestion and improve safety in the area. The 2005 Legislative Funding Package provided $17.8 million to further improve the interchange by constructing a westbound to southbound loop ramp in 2009. For more information visit the project Web page.
< Back to News Home