Date:
Friday, January 12, 2007
Contact:
Ryan Bianchi, WSDOT Communications, (425) 405-1785 (Everett), Cell (206) 786-4079
Connie Lewis, WSDOT Communications, (425) 405-1796 (Everett), Cell (425) 471-4222
EVERETT – The weather forecast shift to below freezing temperatures for tonight and this weekend has forced crews working to widen I-5 through Everett to cancel the long-awaited closure of the 41st Street on-ramp to northbound I-5 that was set for this weekend.
The ramp will remain open and no I-5 mainline lanes will be closed this weekend.
“When the temperature falls below freezing,” says David Doles, Atkinson/CH2M Hill project manager, “cold weather concrete procedures must be put into effect to keep the concrete mixture from freezing. We were prepared to mix hot water into our concrete mixture and prepared to cover the newly poured concrete with quilts to keep it warm,” he explained, “but when temperatures drop into the 20’s or teens the concrete can’t retain enough heat to properly cure.”
The work will be rescheduled to either next weekend, January 19-22, or the weekend of January 26 – 29, Doles added. “We need to determine which ramp, the 41st northbound or the northbound to eastbound US 2 ramp (originally scheduled for the following weekend) is more critical to complete. Both ramps must get done,” Doles said. “Right now, our engineers are evaluating which work is more critical to the construction schedule, and will release that information late next week,” he concluded.
If crews close the 41st Street on-ramp next weekend (Jan 19-22), it will close at 10 p.m. Friday, January 19 and will open it again by 6 a.m. Monday, January 22 unless weather forces a delayed opening. A signed detour will be provided. Up to two lanes of northbound I-5 will also be closed Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday night (if needed) starting Friday from 10 p.m. until 7 a.m. the following morning.
If crews close the northbound I-5 to eastbound US2 ramp next weekend instead of the 41st Street ramp, the same hours and closure procedures as used for the 41st Street ramp will be in effect. A signed detour will take drivers to the Marine View Drive exit then back to I-5 and the southbound exit to eastbound US 2. Drivers should be prepared for delays, particularly on Saturday and Sunday afternoon to evening.
In the coming months, construction work will require several weekend long ramp closures. All work is weather dependent and could be pushed to the next available suitable weather weekend. For details about WSDOT’s effort to widen I-5 through Everett, please visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/HOVSR526toUS2/.
January 19 – 22 OR 26 – 29, 2007
At 10 p.m. Friday, crews will close either the 41st Street northbound on-ramp or the I-5 northbound to US 2 eastbound ramp. The ramp will reopen by 6 a.m. Monday, January 22 unless weather forces a delayed opening.
Starting at 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and possibly Sunday nights crews will begin closing up to two lanes of northbound I-5 near either the 41st Street ramp or the US 2 ramp. These lanes will reopen by 6 a.m. each morning.
February 16 - 19, 2007 (or alternate weekend in case of weather delays)
10 p.m. Friday the detour across Cascade View Bridge will close
10 p.m. Friday the 41st Street on-ramp to I-5 northbound will close
By 5 a.m. Monday morning:
- 41st Street Bridge opens
- 41st Street NB on ramp re-opens
- Left turn onto 41st Street closes for 2 weeks (from the I-5 southbound 41st Street exit and the 41st Street loop ramp)
February 23 - 26 2007 (or alternate weekend in case of weather delays)
- 10 p.m. Friday the existing 41st Street loop ramp will permanently close
- 5 a.m. Monday morning the new I-5 northbound exit ramp to 41st Street will open
March 2 – 5, 2007 (or alternate weekend in case of weather delays)
- 10 p.m. Friday, I-5 southbound exit to 41st Street will close so crews can tie-in the new southbound exit ramp.
- 5 a.m. Monday the new I-5 southbound 41st Street exit ramp will open
June 22 - 25, 2007 (or alternate weekend in case of weather delays)
- Crews will finalize work on the new southbound I-5 on ramp from 41st Street
- 5 a.m. Monday the new single point urban interchange will be complete with 4 lanes operating. The remaining lanes will tie into City’s 41st Street widening project when it’s complete.
Tentative Schedule for Other Weekend Potential Ramp Closures
January – February 2007
Westbound US 2 ramp to southbound I-5 and the southbound right lane of I-5 from US 2 to Pacific Ave.
March
Southbound I-5 to 41st Street exit ramp.
April
Exit ramp from southbound I-5 to Everett Ave/eastbound US 2 and the auxiliary lane.
May
The I-5 on-ramp from Pacific Ave.
The exit ramp from NB I-5 to Pacific Avenue.
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