EVERETT, APRIL 10: A press release distributed by the City of Everett on April 9 announced that the city will celebrate the opening of the new Edgewater Bridge on April 27 at 3:30 p.m. The community is invited to attend and walk across the bridge, learn more about the project from the project team and hear remarks from the cities of Everett and Mukilteo. The bridge is expected to open to vehicles at the end of the workday on April 28.
“I’m excited to see the brand-new Edgewater Bridge open again and serving our community,” said Mayor Cassie Franklin. “Construction brought real impacts – especially to the neighbors who live close to the bridge – but I’m proud to deliver a more structurally sound bridge that’s built to last and ready for the future.”
Replacing the Edgewater Bridge involved removing a 366-foot-long, 60-foot-tall concrete bridge and building three bridges: the new Edgewater Bridge and two temporary work platforms on either side of the ravine from which the new bridge was built. This work was done over a deep ravine while protecting the sensitive creek habitat and steep slopes below.
“This celebration is the culmination of a large and complex effort to build a new bridge in a complex site, with challenging geology and spatial constraints,” said Ryan Sass, Everett Public Works director. “The new bridge is a long-term, high-impact investment in our transportation future. I want to thank our staff and our contractors for taking every step possible to keep the project moving forward despite significant and unexpected challenges.”
Project background
Edgewater Bridge is one of three major bridges along Mukilteo Boulevard that are within Everett city limits, serving as an important connection between Everett and Mukilteo. The bridge that was replaced was built in 1946 and had reached the end of its useful life. This made replacement necessary to provide future access and reduce the potential for damage in an earthquake.
The majority of the project funding was secured through federal sources, including a significant contribution from Congressman Larsen, and the replacement project moved forward, with the bridge closure commencing in October 2024. Challenges were encountered during construction that necessitated modifications to the original schedule. This includes encountering unstable soil, which made access for drilling and shaft work challenging and time consuming. Approximately 140 truckloads of unsuitable soils were removed during work on the substructure. Additionally, unexpected subsurface obstructions – believed to be pieces of the original bridge – slowed progress when working in the ravine. Staff worked closely with the project team to make up time when feasible and safe to do so.
The City of Everett incorporated community input into the design of the bridge, including the railings, light poles, and gateway design elements. The bridge straddles the border of Everett and Mukilteo and will welcome travelers into both cities. In addition to the design elements, the new bridge includes wider sidewalks and bike lanes on each side of the road.
Bridge reopening
While the roadway will reopen to vehicle traffic on April 28, there is still work that needs to be finished before the project is fully complete. Permanent roadway striping, barriers, lighting, paint and other tasks may need to be completed after the bridge is open to traffic. The new sidewalks on the bridge will remain closed until the final work on the bridge is complete.
Edgewater Park
During construction, portions of Edgewater Park have been used for construction staging. The park will be renovated following the full completion of the Edgewater Bridge Replacement Project.
Attending the re-opening event
For those attending the celebration, please note:
Street parking is available but is very limited. We encourage carpooling if possible.
- Please do not park on private property or block driveway access.
- The bridge will not be open to vehicle traffic at the time of the celebration. You may approach the bridge from either side but will not be able to drive across the bridge.
Learn more
To learn more about the project, please visit: everettwa.gov/edgewater. Also, the City of Everett has a playlist of Edgewater video updates that can be viewed on the City’s YouTube channel.
Original press release distributed by the City of Everett.
