Date:  Thursday, June 04, 2009

Contact: Bronlea Mishler, WSDOT Communications, 360-661-7832 (Burlington)
Marco Foster, Engineering Manager, 360-757-5991 (Burlington)

MOUNT VERNON – Crews working to repave the SR 538/Riverside Drive intersection in Mount Vernon will complete their work more than three full days ahead of schedule, at 6 a.m. Friday, June 5. Work was scheduled to continue until 6 a.m. Monday, June 8.

Engineering Manager Marco Foster credits the good weather and hard work of the contractor for reopening the intersection early.

“The community’s support of the full intersection closure was instrumental in getting this work done as quickly as we did,” Foster said “The contractor did a fantastic job of managing this work.”

The Riverside Drive improvements are the first part of a $5.2 million project that also includes repaving a five-mile stretch of SR 536 and a half-mile of SR 538 in Mount Vernon. Construction at all three locations is expected to be complete by fall 2009.

Crews closed the intersection at 9 p.m. Sunday, May 31 so they could replace the current asphalt road surface with more durable, longer-lasting concrete.

The current asphalt intersection was heavily rutted. The new concrete intersection is less likely to develop ruts and will be safer for drivers.

“We know the intersection closure was disruptive to the local businesses and commuters, but we really appreciate everyone’s support and patience,” Foster said. “This new concrete intersection will last longer and be maintenance-free for many years.”

For more information about this project, visit the project Web page at www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR536/SR538Paving.  

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