Overview
To help eliminate sudden lane changes and improve a major traffic chokepoint, crews widened the northbound and southbound freeway lanes to include an extra merging lane between 41st and US 2. This included adding a 10 miles of new HOV lanes on I-5 from Boeing Freeway (SR 526) to US 2 (Hewitt Avenue Trestle), as well as making several other safety and traffic flow improvements.
Crews also built a new, wider 41st Street bridge with a new northbound I-5 exit, a new southbound I-5 entrance and new signals. Construction started in September 2005 and crews opened all lane and ramps to traffic in June 2008.
 | Improves Safety
Adding new lanes on I-5 between SR 526 and US 2 increased safety by reducing back ups on the highway and ramps. New, wider shoulders allow space for aid vehicles. More lanes on the 41st over crossing will decrease congestion and reduce the the frequency and severity of collisions.
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 | Relieves Congestion
The new HOV lanes will reduce congestions for carpools, vanpools, and buses. The extra merging lanes, the new Broadway exit and the new interchange at 41st will smooth out traffic flow and improve access to neighborhoods and businesses.
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 | Protects Environment
WSDOT built water quality facilities to treat stormwater flowing from 280 acres of pavement, median, and slopes in the area.
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 | Economic Incentive
Adding capacity to I-5 helps keep freight moving along the only north-south corridor that crosses the state.
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Partnerships & Cooperation
We selected AtkinsonCH2M as the design-builder for this project.
Throughout the nearly three years of construction, we worked closely with the city of Everett, transit, business groups, professional associations, community groups, neighborhoods and commuters to get feedback on the project.
We also held numerous meetings to discuss noise walls and provided neighborhood voting to determine whether to build them.
Funding
This project was funded through the following sources:
- 2005 Gas Tax (Partnership Funding) - $42.8 million
- 2003 Gas Tax (Nickel funding) - $214.8 million
- Existing Funds - $5.2 million
- Other Agency Funds - $600,000 (City of Everett)
- Total Funding available from all sources: $263.4 million
A portion of the state tax you pay on each gallon of gas went towards this project and other specific high priority transportation projects through Washington State. In 2003 and 2005, the Washington State Legistlature passed new transportation funding to ensure crucial projects like the I-5 Everett Freeway Expansion, I-5/41st Street improvements and Highway 9 widening could be paid for and built.
The legislature accelerated funding for the project in its 2004 supplemental transportation budget and WSDOT folded the I-5/41st Street improvements into the I-5 Freeway Expansion project in December 2005 to speed up construction and provide congestion relief to drivers more quickly.
Contact Us
WSDOT Communications
Patricia Michaud
9025 El Capitan Way
Everett, WA 98208
Phone: 425-225-8760
E-mail: michaup@wsdot.wa.gov
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