WSDOT Projects

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Crews opened a new section of SR 9 to drivers. View construction photos.


See an aerial view of the new, straightened section of highway

Project Facts

• SR 9 is the only major north-south roadway on the east side of Snohomish County, and the only major alternative to I-5.
• In addition to adding turn lanes, we will also improve sight distance by filling in a dip at 268th Street NE and constructing a retaining wall.
• There were 49 collisions on SR 9 from Schloman Road to 252nd Street NE between 2003 and 2007. Constructing a new, straight roadway will reduce the likelihood of future collisions.

We will improve safety and reduce congestion on SR 9 between Schloman Road and 268th Street NE by adding turn lanes at several intersections, constructing a new straight roadway that bypasses a curvy section of the highway, constructing wider lanes and shoulders, and improving lighting and drainage.

Why is WSDOT improving SR 9 between Arlington and Bryant?
SR 9 is the only major north-south roadway on the east side of Snohomish County, and the only major alternative to I-5.

Population growth in Snohomish County has caused increased congestion and a rise in collisions on SR 9, especially at busy intersections. New turn lanes will help to eliminate congestion and improve safety for drivers attempting to turn across oncoming traffic.

The roadway of SR 9 also curves sharply between Schloman Road and 252nd Street NE, making it difficult for drivers to see ahead and slow down for turning vehicles. We construct a new, straight roadway through this area to improve sight distance and enhance safety for drivers.

The End Result
Drivers will notice a new, straightened section of SR 9 between Schloman Road and 252nd Street NE, a new bridge over Harvey Creek and Harvey Creek Road, and intersection improvements such as new turn lanes and improved lighting at 252nd Street NE and 268th Street NE.

Project Benefits
Safety.  A wider, straighter road, improved lighting, new turn lanes, and other improvements will enhance safety and reduce the risk of collisions.

Reduced Congestion. Left and right turn lanes will help keep drivers moving.

Environment. We will create wetlands and provide storm water treatment facilities to improve water quality and fish habitat.

What is the project timeline?
Spring 2007 - We began construction.

Fall 2008 - We expect to complete this project.

Public Involvement
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. We hosted two successful open houses between November 2002 and March 2003. More than five dozen attendees at each event reviewed proposed designs and collision data, and discussed concerns with us.

Concerns included maintaining access, reducing the speed limit, property impacts and making safety improvements at the Schloman Road curve and at intersections.

Attendees were able to choose a preferred design alternative for straightening the Schloman curve during the first open house. During the second open house, attendees had the chance to look at the preferred alternative to fix the roadway and ask questions.

We appreciate everyone who made the effort to comment on the project. Many of your suggestions were included in the project design, including your support for maintaining Bryant Store access, and keeping the SR9 and 269th PL NE intersection open.

For more information, please contact project engineer  Janice Fahning at 425-225-8799.

Environmental Protection
During the design phase of this project, we marked sensitive areas, such as wetlands and streams along the highway to avoid negative impacts whenever reasonably possible.

Crews will build a wetland and runoff ponds to hold storm water and treat it before it is slowly released into nearby waterways.

Crews will also place a new, wider culvert beneath the roadway. The culvert and detention pond at the intersection will slow the flow of storm water and improve local salmon habitat. They also help prevent roadway flooding which keeps drivers safer during storms.

The chosen contractor must comply with federal, state and local environmental regulations during construction.


Please visit the WSDOT Environmental Services Web site for more information.

Increasing safety is one of our priorities
We will widen shoulders to reduce the risk of run-off-the-road collisions, widen lanes to reduce the risk of head-on collisions, and add left-turn lanes to reduce the risk of rear-end collisions.

We will also fill low spots on the road, realign intersection approaches, and flatten side slopes to improve sight distances. We will also improve intersection lighting for greater visibility, relocate roadside utility poles, mailboxes, fence posts and trees.

In addition, we will control access to the Bryant store and Snohomish County parking lot, and relocate a residential driveway from the southwest corner of the intersection at 168th Streeet NE to the crest of the Stanwood-Bryant Road hill.

Will this project impact tribal resources?
We initiated a Section 106 consultation in March 2003 with the Tulalip, Swinomish, Stillaguamish, Samish, and Kikiallus Tribes. A Cultural Resource Survey was prepared and sent to the Tribes for their comment and review in September 2003.

We reinitiated a Section 106 consultation with the Stillaguamish, Swinomish, and Tulalip Tribes in November 2004. We prepared two addendums to the original Schloman Road Cultural Resource Survey and shared them with the Tribes, the first in January 2005 and the second in September 2005. We will continue to coordinate with all interested Tribes throughout the design and construction of all projects on SR 9.

To learn more about Section 106 Tribal Consultation (also called government-to-government tribal consultation process) please visit WSDOT's Tribal Liaison page, where you'll find the WSDOT Centennial Accord Plan and WSDOT's Tribal Consultation Policy (Adopted by the Transportation Commission on February 19, 2003).

Financial Information

This project is funded through the following fund sources:

• 2003 Gas Tax (Nickel Funding) - $16.1 million
• Existing State Funds - $4.5 million
• Other Agency Funds (Snohomish County) - $93,000
• Total Funding From All Sources - $20.7 million

How can I get more information?
Contact:
Asst. Project Engineer Janice Fahning 
9021 El Capitan Way
Everett, WA 98208
Phone: 425.225.8799
E-mail: FahninJ@wsdot.wa.gov

Communications Aurora Jones
15700 Dayton Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98133
Phone: 206.440.4697
E-mail: jonesa@wsdot.wa.gov

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