Date:  Wednesday, April 09, 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 – Springtime in Everett means more than just flowers opening. If dry weather allows for restriping this weekend, crews will open 2.5 new miles of carpool lane on southbound I-5 between US 2 and Lowell. Just in time for Monday’s morning commute, carpoolers, vanpoolers and transit will enjoy a dedicated lane that starts at US 2 and continues to the express lane entrance at Northgate.

“Crews have worked through all that the weather has offered: rain, snow, sun, wind” said Project Director Mike Cotten “They’ve juggled their work to accommodate the changing forecast so they could stay on course. Now their nimbleness is paying off.”

The 2.5 mile carpool extension is the latest segment of more than 10 new miles included in the project. Crews plan to open six miles of new northbound carpool lane later this month.

The southbound I-5 carpool lane will open in segments through the weekend. Starting 7 p.m. Thursday, Apr. 10, crews will begin to close lanes and restripe their way north, opening portions of the new carpool lane as they work toward US 2. Drivers should expect nighttime lane closures on southbound I-5 Thursday through Sunday.

Crews are grinding: Expect a rough patch on southbound I-5

While crews open up southbound I-5 through Everett and move the lanes into their final configuration, they are also preparing the road for the final layer of pavement. Starting Thursday, Apr. 10, crews will begin grinding down the surface on southbound I-5 between Broadway and Lowell. Motorists should expect an uneven driving surface on this section of I-5 through next week. If weather permits, crews hope to add the final layer of asphalt within the next two weeks.

“We ask for drivers’ patience as they drive through this rough portion of southbound I-5. Crews will smooth out the uneven surface as soon as possible” said Cotten “In the meantime, we ask drivers to stay alert and slow down as they drive through this active construction zone.”

More openings coming as crews race ahead

I-5 Everett crews are racing forward to open more lanes and complete the ramp improvements. They plan to have all lanes open to traffic by June but the work will continue through summer:

April

• open southbound HOV between US 2 and the Lowell Bridge (52nd St. SE)
• extend the new southbound auxiliary lane between US 2 and the 41st Street interchange to Broadway
• open new northbound HOV lane between SR 526 and US 2

May

• 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 - August

• new traffic cameras and ramp meters
• landscaping
• replace aging expansion joints between 41st Street and Everett Avenue

The $263 million project is scheduled to be complete by this summer. 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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