Date:  Friday, July 23, 2010

Contact: Meghan Soptich Pembroke, WSDOT Communications, 206-440-4704 (Seattle)
Janice Fahning, WSDOT Project Engineer, 425-225-8799 (Everett)

MARYSVILLE – Commuters on SR 529 between Marysville and Everett can begin the countdown to a new Ebey Slough Bridge. Granite Construction crews working for WSDOT broke ground this week on a three-year $50 million project to replace the 85-year-old bridge with a four-lane, fixed-span steel bridge.

“There are only three state-owned bridges older than the Ebey Slough Bridge,” said Janice Fahning, WSDOT project engineer. “The new bridge will improve traffic flow and safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists and will help reduce maintenance costs.”

The new bridge will have two lanes in each direction, with separate bicycle lanes and sidewalks on each side of the bridge. It will be a taller, “fixed-span” bridge, rather than a “swing-span” bridge. The existing bridge swings on its axis to allow marine traffic to pass, a process that typically takes about 10 minutes and causes delays for vehicle traffic.

“The new Ebey Slough Bridge is critical to improving safety by reducing backups on the high-speed portions of northbound SR 529,” said Marysville Mayor Dennis Kendall. “For the long term, the Ebey Slough Bridge is a vital connection that serves the large residential growth in southern Marysville to the Everett regional center and Naval Station Everett.”

SR 529 is a main commuter route between Marysville and Everett. About 17,000 drivers use this section of SR 529 each day. The existing bridge is at the end of its service life, and does not meet current traffic needs. The new bridge will help reduce congestion by handling more vehicle traffic. It will also reduce the need for costly repairs and eliminate the cost of staffing the old moveable bridge.

The existing Ebey Slough Bridge will remain open during construction. Crews will build the new bridge to the east of the existing bridge. They will also realign SR 529 to meet the new bridge, and add a two-way left turn lane just north of the bridge. The project is expected to be completed in late 2013.

Drivers should plan for overnight closures on SR 529 starting next week, as well as some full weekend closures during construction. Crews are scheduled to complete the project in 2013. For project details, graphics and video, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr529/ebeysloughbridge.

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