Date:  Thursday, March 13, 2008

Contact: Patty Michaud, WSDOT Communications, (425) 405-1785 (Everett), cell (206) 786-4079
Connie Lewis, WSDOT Communications, (425) 405-1796 (Everett), cell (425) 471-4222

EVERETT – Crews are making good progress on the Pacific Avenue girder replacement project, but the work hasn’t stopped elsewhere on I-5 in Everett. With their eyes on the June finish line, crews are staying on course to complete the I-5 Everett HOV freeway expansion project by June 2008.

This week they are putting the finishing touches on three project milestones:

• pouring the last cubic yard of the 72,000 cubic yards of concrete pavement used in this project
• placing the last of 104 bridge decks in the project
• raising the last of 10 noise walls

Dave Doles, Atkinson Project Manager on the I-5 Everett HOV project confirms that crews are in the home stretch but cautions “even if this has been a week of lasts on the project, we’re not finished yet.”

“There’s a lot of work remaining, we still have some major gates to clear, but the crews are focused and racing ahead,” said I-5 HOV Project Director Mike Cotten. “They are determined to have the remaining HOV lanes ready by late April.”

After crews complete the Pacific Avenue bridge girder replacement, they will open eight miles of HOV lanes on north and southbound I-5 between US 2 and SR 526.

The remaining gates on the course

Crews are on track to reach the finish line at lightening speed. By June, all lanes on the I-5 Everett HOV freeway expansion project will be open to traffic.

Late April

• open new northbound HOV lane
• open southbound auxiliary lane between US 2 and the 41st Street interchange
• open southbound HOV lane between Marine View Drive and the Lowell Bridge

May 21

• open new I-5 northbound to Broadway Avenue HOV exit ramp
• open new Broadway Avenue to I-5 southbound HOV entrance ramp
• open new 41st Street entrance ramp to I-5 southbound

June

• New traffic cameras and ramp meters

The $263 million project is scheduled to be complete by June 2008. Find out more about the I-5 Everett HOV freeway expansion project by visiting www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/HOVSR526toUS2/.

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