Getting ready to travel? Here are some of the major summer road projects in WA state
Summer is rapidly approaching and several major transportation projects will be underway statewide.
McClatchy reached out to the state Department of Transportation to learn more about key projects in different regions of the state the next few months.
Here is a list of those projects and how much they cost:
King County
I-90 Sunset Creek fish passage
When: Summer 2023-2026
Effect: WSDOT noted that this will be one of the biggest projects this year. “This multi-year project will require long-term lane reductions as our contractor replaces a culvert near 100 feet underneath this section of I-90. The project will add new bridgeson I-90, Eastgate Way and Southeast 36th Street,” agency officials said.
Cost: $117 Million
I-90/SR 18 interchange improvements
When: 2022-2025
Effect: As one of the busiest interchanges in the state, traffic backups frequently occur on busy travel weekends. A diverging diamond interchange is being added as well as two lanes on SR 18 between the interchange and Deep Creek.
Cost: $188 million
SR 518/24th Avenue Bridge girder replacement
When: Begins July 5
Effect: The 24th Avenue Bridge will be closed for 14 weeks to replace a bridge girder along eastbound SR 518. Eastbound SR 518 will also be closed July 14-17 and July 21-24.
Cost: TBD
I-405 Lind Avenue bridge span replacement
When: Spring 2023-winter 2024
Effect: Due to severe damage from an oversized vehicle on the Lind Avenue Southwest bridge, crews will need to demolish and then replace the span. Although there are no specific dates yet, southbound I-405 will need to be closed for a weekend and several overnight closures will also occur.
Cost: $5.8 million
I-5 Duwamish to Lucile Street preservation
When: Summer 2023-late 2024
Effect: Both directions of I-5 between the Duwamish River and Lucile Street will need to be rehabilitated. Those who travel this section should be aware of “nighttime single and multiple lane closures, weekend-long lane reductions to replace expansion joints and concrete panels, and on and off-ramp closures.
Cost: $29.3 million
SR 520/I-5
When: August 2021-2024
Effect: Creates a “reversible transit and carpool connection between SR 520 and the I-5 Express Lanes, along with a reversible transit/carpool ramp at the I-5/Mercer Street interchange.” Westbound State Route 520 ramp to southbound I-5 will see lane reductions until next year.
Cost: $68 million
SR 509 completion
When: Ongoing until 2028
Effect: Improves access to I-5, the ports of Tacoma and Seattle and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, builds new four-lane expressway between I-5 and SR 509, and “builds new I-5 ramps, improves I-5 interchanges in south King County and constructs new bridges.” WSDOT officials said the project will “create an important north-south alternative to the congested I-5 corridor between Seattle and south King County.”
Cost: $2.38 billion
Lewis County
SR 433/Lewis and Clark Bridge – Finger Joint Replacement
When: Spring 2022 - Fall 2023
Effect: SR 433 Lewis and Clark Bridge will close on Sunday, July 16 for up to eight days. Nightly single lane closures begin June 26. Travels should expect long delays and congestion because of closures. Two bridge expansion joints and a fractured floor beam will be replaced by workers.
Cost: $1 million
I-5 Northbound / North Fork River Bridge – Bridge Deck Repair and Overlay
When: Spring 2023 - Fall 2024
Effect: “The NB I-5/North Fork Lewis Bridge Deck project will be the most frustrating for travelers for up to two months,” WSDOT said. As such, WSDOT is requesting that people avoid the area during peak travel times. Beginning in July, work on the bridge will include “deck repairs, placement of a polyester concrete overlay, expansion joint modifications, and new joint seals.”
Cost: Approximately $17.4 million
I-5/I-205 - Concrete Panel Replacement and Joint Rehabilitation
When: Spring 2022 - Fall 2023
Effect: Work will be done to replace cracked panels, and construction in the project “along both directions of I-205 between the Glenn Jackson Bridge near the SR 14 interchange and the I-5/I-205 split and along southbound I-5 between Northeast 179th Street and the I-5/I-205 split.” “Nighttime single and double lane closures, ramp closures and temporary speed limit reductions” should be expected on I-5 and I-205.
Cost: $7 million
Pierce County
I-5 - Mounts Rd. to Steilacoom-DuPont Rd. - Corridor Improvements
When: 2023-2026
Effect: In order to relieve congestion around Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the interchange of Steilacoom-DuPont Road at exit 119 will be rebuilt and new HOV lanes will be added. Travelers can expect weeknight lane and ramp closures.
Cost: $202 million
Snohomish County
I-5/NB Marine View Dr to SR 529 - Corridor & Interchange Improvements
When: 2022 - 2024
Effects: A new roundabout is being built at the I-5/SR 529 interchange to get rid of congestion at I-5/SR 528 interchange and on I-5 between Everett and Marysville. Additionally, new ramps are being built from I-5 northbound to SR 529 and SR 529 to southbound I-5, and the HOV lane is extended from US 2 to SR 529.
“With the traffic pattern now in place, travelers should not experience many additional effects, but could see occasional overnight northbound and southbound lane reductions and ramp closures through fall 2024 on I-5 and SR 529 between Everett and Marysville,” WSDOT officials said in an email
Cost: $123.1 Million
SR 529/Snohomish River & Steamboat Slough - Bridge Repair, Rehabilitation & Painting
When: Summer 2023 – Winter 2024
Effects: The northbound SR 529 Snohomish River Bridge between Everett and Marysville will be rehabilitated due to corrosion. The SR 529 Steamboat Slough Bridge in both directions will also have rehabilitation work done by crews.
“SR 529 will be reduced to a single lane in both directions over the Snohomish River Bridge for up to four months. Several other lane closures, nighttime and weekend bridge closures also will be scheduled for the Snohomish River bridge, with traffic detoured on city streets or I-5. The NB Steamboat Slough bridge will have two four-day full closures, while the SB Steamboat Slough bridge will have several three-day full closures,” WSDOT noted.
Cost: $13.5 million
SR 9/SR 204 Intersection Improvements
When: July 2016 - December 2023
Effects: WSDOT officials said this is another major project. While the final stage of this project is ongoing now, “both directions of SR 9 will close beginning at 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 21, until 5 a.m. Wednesday, June 28, between Lundeen Parkway and SR 204 for roundabout construction,” WSDOT said. The project adds four roundabouts and widens SR 9 to two lanes to deal with congestion and provide better access for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Cost: $69 million
I-5 Snohomish River Bridge Painting
When: Summer 2023-fall 2024
Effects: Starting this summer, crews will clean and paint the metal surfaces of two bridge structures on I-5 over the Snohomish River. The project “will have single lane, shoulder and ramp closures on northbound and southbound I-5. It will include two eight-day closures of SB E. Marine Drive and two additional closures of SB E. Marine Drive are allowed,” said WSDOT.
Cost: $13.7 million
SR 526/Airport Rd to E Casino Rd - Seismic Retrofit
When: February 2023 to December 2023
Effects: Four bridges along State Route 526 in Everett will be seismically strengthened by adding steel “jackets” around support columns.
“Travelers can expect some weeknight lane closures on SR 526 both and some nightly closures of the westbound SR 526 off-ramp to Airport Road with Long-term closures of lanes at Airport, Hardeson and East Casino roads,” according to WSDOT.
Cost: $6 million
I-5/NB Lowell Rd to Snohomish River
When: Fall 2022 - Fall 2023
Effects: While this project is nearing completion, those who travel northbound I-5 through downtown Everett should expect “overnight lane reductions between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday nights through Friday mornings.”
Cost: $7.9 million
Whatcom County
SR 542 Squalicum Creek to Bellingham Bay Fish Passage
When: Spring 2023 - Winter 2023
Effect: WSDOT told McClatchy that the impact of this project will be high. Travelers can expect a full road closure of SR 542 between Britton Road and Noon Road throughout the summer which is anticipated to extend through the fall as crews remove a fish barrier and replace it with a single-span bridge. Other closures are at Kelly Road and Hannegan; Van Wyck Road and Hannegan; Van Wyck Road and Noon Road although local access is permitted.
Cost: $8.8 Million
Whatcom and Skagit counties
I-5 SB Joe Leary Slough to Nulle Road Vicinity - Concrete Rehabilitation
When: May 2023 - September 2023
Effect: This rehabilitation will have a medium impact on traffic while crews replace old pavement with new asphalt.
“While most of this will be night work with one SB lane remaining open, this is a stretch of I-5 with few on/off ramps which often means that anytime a lane is closed (reduced capacity by 50%) backups are lengthy and occur quickly,” said WSDOT. One southbound lane can be closed at a time and the agency noted that “weekday closures are permitted between 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.; weekend closures are permitted between 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.; and ramp closure hours vary but are typically allowed between 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.”
Cost: $11.2 million
Whatcom County, Lynden area
SR 544 Unnamed Tributary to Four Mile Creek Fish Passage
When: Fall 2021 - Fall 2023
Effects: Impacts will be high and construction is expected to start after the Northwest Washington Fair in August. The project was delayed from 2022 until now to replace a culvert so that fish can have a passable structure.
“A 19-day full roadway closure is planned on SR 544 with a signed detour to SR 546. Detour signs will be posted five days in advance of the closure,” WSDOT said.
Cost: $1.9 million
This story was originally published June 18, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
