EVERETT, APRIL 25: Northbound SR 529 will be closed at the Steamboat Slough Bridge for multiple weekends in May as it undergoes repairs.
Contractor crews will close northbound SR 529 at the Steamboat Slough Bridge 24 hours a day May 2-6 and May 9-13 to complete scheduled work according to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
The purpose of this project is to preserve and protect the bridges from corrosion damage and ensure the movable spans function properly, according to WSDOT.
In 2023, about 18,800 vehicles used northbound SR 529 daily.
Closure Schedule
From 11 p.m. Friday, May 2 to 11 p.m. Tuesday, May 6 the bridge will be closed for mechanical work.
During the other three weekends this month, excluding Memorial Day weekend, WSDOT will have additional SR 529 closures from 11 p.m. Friday to 11 p.m. the following Tuesday, including:
- Northbound May 9-13
- Southbound May 16-20 (tentative)
- Southbound May 30-June 2 (tentative)
When one direction of SR 529 is closed at Steamboat Slough, motorists will be able to use the other to get to or from Smith Island. A shuttle service will be available to take pedestrians, bicyclists and people who use mobility devices around the closure.
During this time the contractor, Liberty Maintenance, will replace bridge mechanical items on both Steamboat Slough bridges. The Swing bridges rotate rather than lift to allow marine traffic to pass, WSDOT Communications Consultant Tom Pearce wrote in a recent blog. Federal law requires the state to keep the bridges working so boats can pass.
Other related updates
WSDOT expects to open on and off ramps for the SR 529 interchange in late spring or early summer. Once they open, the I-5 Marine View Drive to Steamboat Slough project will be complete.
The project will add an off-ramp from northbound I-5 to SR 529 and an on-ramp from SR 529 to southbound I-5. The project also includes a roundabout for easier access between I-5 and SR 529.
The project aims to address increased congestion and long commute times in the area. It will also prepare for an additional 200,000 residents in Snohomish County by 2035.
Plan ahead
Last summer, WSDOT reduced traffic to one lane in each direction to do work on the northbound SR 529 Snohomish River Bridge. This year WSDOT does not plan to do this because it “would be inefficient to set it up and remove it four times.”
“If there were a less intrusive way to do this work, we’d certainly use it. But due to its nature, this work requires multi-day closures. We appreciate your patience as we maintain our state’s highways,” Pearce wrote.
That means to plan for additional traffic in north Everett and in each direction of I-5 as people move around the closures.
People who travel in this area need to:
- Plan ahead and allow extra travel time.
- If possible, avoid peak traffic hours.
- Consider alternatives such as transit.
- Follow detours and avoid neighborhood streets.
