Date:  Thursday, October 09, 2008

Contact: Mark Leth, WSDOT Regional Traffic Engineer, 206-440-4487 (Seattle)
Meghan Soptich, WSDOT Communications, 206-440-4704 (Seattle)
Patty Michaud, WSDOT Communications, 425-225-8760 (Everett), 206-786-4079

Update: Crews completed striping work ahead of schedule and reopened the trestle and all the on-ramps from I-5 and Hewitt Ave by 7 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11.

Drivers must take alternate routes to avoid nearly 20-mile detour

EVERETT – Weather permitting, crews will completely close eastbound US 2 between I-5 and SR 204 overnight on Friday, Oct. 10 while they restripe the eastbound trestle. During the closure, crews will remove more than two miles of striping and restripe the trestle to create two lanes of traffic and a wider, 14-foot right shoulder. Drivers should prepare for a long detour and add extra time for their trips.

“We need drivers to plan ahead for this weekend’s full closure of US 2 and stay tuned as we get ready to make changes to the way eastbound traffic moves across the trestle.” said Mark Leth, Regional Traffic Engineer.

Crews will start closing the on-ramps from both directions of I-5 to eastbound US 2 at 9:30 p.m. on Friday and will fully close the eastbound trestle at midnight. They will reopen one lane and the on-ramp from northbound I-5 at 7 a.m. Saturday. At noon, crews will open all lanes, including the southbound I-5 and Hewitt Avenue ramps to eastbound US 2.

To avoid a nearly 20-mile detour during the closure, northbound I-5 drivers headed to the east end of the trestle must take SR 96 (128th St) in Mill Creek and southbound I-5 drivers headed to the east end of the trestle must should take SR 528 (4th St) in Marysville and connect with SR 9.

Coming soon: Relief in sight for Everett commuters
When crews reopen US 2 on Saturday, most drivers will notice little difference in the way they navigate the trestle. Over the next few months, WSDOT engineers will finalize their plans for signing and operating the trestle during the afternoon commute. Once signs are in place, as early as January 2009, drivers will be able to use the shoulder on weekday afternoons.

“We’ve heard from many commuters in Everett and understand their frustration,” said Leth. “Restriping the trestle is the first step in relieving congestion on the trestle. Allowing drivers to use the right shoulder during the afternoon rush hour will help ease the pressure on I-5 and Hewitt Ave as traffic merges onto eastbound US 2..”

Engineers decided to move ahead with the restriping work while crews and good weather were available. They’ll use the next couple of months to finalize their signing and operating plans, obtain the necessary permits, and relocate barrier near the Homeacres exit. The interim period will also allow drivers who exit at Homeacres Rd to get accustomed to using the shoulder to exit.

“The timing is right for this low-cost fix,” said Leth. “Drivers are adjusting to the changes we made to I-5 in Everett and this improvement will add to the benefits they’re already seeing. We’ve just finished the expansion joint work on I-5 and our crews are in place and ready to restripe the trestle.”

This project is part of our Moving Washington strategy to reduce traffic congestion in our state. Restriping this section of US 2 will help improve traffic flow by making the trestle operate more efficiently. For more information on Moving Washington, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/movingwashington.

For more information about the US 2 eastbound trestle congestion relief project, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/US2/TrafficManagement/.

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