Date:  Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Contact:
Dave Chesson, WSDOT Communications, 360-757-5970 (Burlington)
Dave Crisman, Project Engineer, 360-428-1593 (Mount Vernon)

April 6, 2011

New two-lane bridge to replace one of state’s oldest bridges in 2012

ARLINGTON – At 95 years old, the one-lane Pilchuck Creek Bridge on State Route 9 north of Arlington is one of the oldest bridges in the state. Next year, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will replace it with a wider, stronger bridge, on a new roadway alignment that will improve sight distance, helping improve safety for the 1,300 drivers that use this route daily.

WSDOT has completed the preliminary design for the new bridge and invites local drivers and residents to an open house Wednesday, April 13, where they can meet with the design team and review the latest project details.

The meeting will be held at Snohomish County Fire Station 91, 26828 State Route 9 in Arlington. Participants are invited to drop by any time between 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.; there will be no formal presentation.

The Pilchuck Bridge was built in 1916 and is only 17 feet wide, with one lane. Traffic is controlled by a yield sign at the south end of the bridge. While the bridge itself remains safe for drivers, it’s time to replace it.

Engineers considered several options for replacing the bridge. They selected a bridge design that will improve sight distance and safety, reduce impacts to the environment and neighboring properties, and be the most cost effective.

On average, 1,300 drivers use the bridge daily. The bridge also runs parallel to I-5 and serves as the only major north-south route available if a closure shuts down the interstate.

The state has earmarked $6.2 million for improvements and construction is scheduled to begin in 2012.

For more information about the project, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR9/PilchuckCreekBridge, call WSDOT at 360-757-5970 or email chessod@wsdot.wa.gov.

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