Project News

• Due to colder temperatures and forecasted rain, all remaining paving work on westbound US 2 is postponed until spring 2019.
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Overview
Contractor crews with Lakeside Industries will repave three miles of the westbound lanes of US 2 from Bickford Avenue to the I-5 interchange, including the Hewitt Avenue trestle. The eastbound lanes of the highway have been resurfaced from the US 2/SR 204 interchange to Bickford Avenue.

Why is WSDOT rehabilitating the existing pavement on roughly three miles of US 2 in Everett?
This stretch of highway hasn’t been repaved since 2002. The asphalt used during that project was identified as having an average lifespan of about 15 years. Since then, cracks, ruts and potholes have developed. This creates an uneven surface which allows water to pool on the roadway. Wet roads create difficult driving conditions and can also result in slower travel times as drivers reduce their speeds to handle the slick surface. Installing new pavement will also extend the life of the highway.

Westbound weekend closures
When crews remove the pavement in the westbound lanes, they take the opportunity to also inspect the trestle and make any necessary repairs. In 2018, weather-related postponements and cold temperatures meant the final two westbound closures of US 2 between Snohomish and Everett had to be postponed to 2019. To finish the remaining preservation work on the westbound lanes from the Snohomish River to the Interstate 5 interchange, our contractor needs up to two weekend closures of westbound US 2 between State Route 204 and I-5. The narrow westbound trestle does not have adequate space to accommodate construction crews, equipment and safely keep a lane of traffic open. The work being done during those closures takes much longer than a standard overnight closure of 7 hours.

Due to the fact the work is weather-dependent, we have identified seven possible weekends for the remaining two closures.

2019 tentative weekend westbound US 2 closure dates:

• June 22 – 23
• June 29 – 30
• July 13 – 14
• July 20 – 21
• August 3 – 4
• August 10 – 11
• August 17 - 18

If weather postpones a closure, we will use the next weekend as identified above.

During the weekend closures, travelers will detour via State Route 9. We expect to see major backups and delays and encourage people to adjust their plans accordingly.

The eastbound trestle is newer and made of concrete, so it does not require weekend closures. Work on eastbound US 2 between the SR 204 interchange and Bickford Avenue will happen overnight.

The End Result
This project will make this section of US 2 safer for the 22,000 drivers who use it daily. New pavement also reduces future maintenance needs and costs.

Needs & benefits

• Safety: Repaving the highway removes existing cracks, ruts and potholes where pooled water can collect, causing cars to slide. This water can also freeze, creating pockets of ice on the asphalt. New pavement will also prevent future damage to the roadway.
• Economic: Repairing aging asphalt is a cost-effective way to protect the roadway and increase its lifespan.

Timeline

• April 2018: Construction began.
• Spring/summer 2018: Weekend closures scheduled.
• Spring/summer 2019: Construction resumes.
• Fall 2019: Construction scheduled to be completed.