Date:
Friday, June 09, 2006
Contact:
Marlin Lenssen, Project Engineer, (425) 225-8770 (Everett)
Travis Phelps, WSDOT Communications, (206) 440-4470 (Seattle)
SEATTLE – The Washington State Department of Transportation, city of Everett, Washington State Transportation Improvement Board, KLB Construction, lawmakers, and local representatives gathered today to celebrate the completion of the State Route 527 widening project through Everett.
This two-year, $20.6 million project transformed an outdated two-lane section of roadway into a modern, five-lane urban highway. The new lanes, located between 132nd Street SE in Mill Creek to 112th Street SE in Everett, complete almost 12 miles of highway widening. Crews also built a pedestrian path and upgraded park features along Silver Lake including bicycle lanes and sidewalks. Drivers now have two lanes in each direction from I-405 in Bothell to I-5 in Everett, and middle-turn lanes at several intersections.
State Route 527 is a major urban corridor connecting Interstate 5 and Interstate 405. Over the past 15 years the population of Snohomish County has increased by 37 percent.
“We must continue to make capacity and safety improvements as more and more people choose to call Snohomish County home,” said Secretary of Transportation Doug MacDonald.
Local elected officials agree, and remain supportive of increased transportation funding to improve safety, traffic flow and access to homes and businesses.
“Snohomish County is one of the fastest growing counties in the state,” said Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon. “These types of improvements will help keep traffic and our economy moving.”
Although traffic volumes along SR 527 vary greatly, traffic counts taken just north of this project reinforce the need for a higher capacity roadway. In 1990, 19,000 vehicles used this stretch of highway each day. In 2004, that number had increased by 90 percent to 36,000 vehicles per day.
“These much-needed improvements will allow our Silver Lake community to reach their destinations safer and sooner," Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson said. "The project was the result of a collaborative effort among the state, city and neighborhood."
This project had several funding sources including the Washington State Department of Transportation, the city of Everett and the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board (TIB).
“It’s great to see the completion of one of the most important arterials in Snohomish County,” said TIB Executive Director Steve Gorcester. “Improving urban corridors like SR 527 is one of our primary goals.”
The final portion of the widening project is partially funded through the Nickel Transportation Funding Package enacted by the 2003 Washington State Legislature. WSDOT expects to complete work on the $20.6 million highway widening project by the end of June. For more information, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR527/CorridorWiden/132ndSE_112thSE/.
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Drivers can now get real time traffic and weather information by dialing 5-1-1 from most phones. This new traveler information system builds upon the highly successful Washington State Highway hotline that managed 4.6 million calls each year. Callers can also use 5-1-1 to get statewide construction, mountain pass condition, and state ferry system information, as well as toll free numbers for passenger rail and airlines. TTY users can call 1-800-833-6388.
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