Date:  Monday, August 03, 2009

Contact: Meghan Pembroke, WSDOT Communications, 206-440-4704 (Seattle)
John Chi, WSDOT Project Engineer, 425-489-5402 (Bothell)
Jeff Elekes, City of Lynnwood Deputy Public Works Director, 425-670-5205 (Lynnwood)

LYNNWOOD – Crews start work today on a stimulus-funded city of Lynnwood project to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists at the I-5/196th Street SW interchange in Lynnwood. Crews will build a new walkway on the 196th Street SW overpass and a pedestrian bridge over the existing southbound I-5 off-ramp. The 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provided $1.25 million toward the $5.65 million project, which will support an estimated 60 jobs.

“When we’re done with this project, bicyclists and pedestrians will have safe and easy access across I-5,” said William Franz, Lynnwood Public Works Director. “We’re excited that the stimulus package will allow us to get started on this important project.”

Crews will build a barrier-separated pedestrian walkway on the north side of the 196th Street SW bridge across the interchange and will replace the existing sidewalk on the south side of the bridge with a traffic barrier. Crews will also build a new pedestrian bridge over the southbound I-5 off-ramp to separate vehicle traffic from pedestrians and bicyclists on the off-ramp. An elevated walkway will provide a safe connection from the bridge to the Interurban Trail and Alderwood Boulevard.

Drivers and pedestrians will see crews installing signs and fencing this week as they prep the area for construction. Lane closures are scheduled to begin the week of Aug. 10.

Crews expect to wrap up work next spring. For more project details, maps and graphics, visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/196thPedestrian.

Washington state is administering the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act investments with an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability. Gov. Gregoire created a Web site, http://www.recovery.wa.gov/, so every Washingtonian can see where tax dollars are going and hold government accountable for the results. On the federal level, President Obama has appointed Vice President Biden to oversee all states’ recovery efforts and to root out waste and fraud. This combined oversight will ensure taxpayer dollars are put to good use and recharge the economy.

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