Date:  Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Contact: Dave Chesson, WSDOT Communications, 360-757-5970 (Burlington)
Robyn Boyd, WSDOT Project Engineer, 360-386-4921 (Stanwood)

Bridge open to drivers on Friday

STANWOOD – The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will open a new, wider and safer bridge connecting Stanwood to Camano Island on Friday, Aug. 13. This key piece of the project will improve traffic flow and increase safety for the 20,000 drivers who use it each day. It remains the only way on and off the island.

Local Boy Scouts, senior citizens, and construction workers joined Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen and local public leaders as they cut the ribbon on the new bridge today, Wednesday, Aug. 11.

The new bridge is a key piece of a larger project that includes truck climbing lanes, new turn lanes, bus pull outs, new sidewalks and new driveways along 10 miles of SR 532. The bridge portion of the work has locals very excited.

“The old bridge served us well, but it was built in 1950 when Camano was a much smaller community,” said Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. “The Camano Island of 2010 needs a bridge that can handle more traffic and is wide enough to keep traffic moving even when there’s an accident. This is a gateway that keeps up with Camano’s needs.”

Crews broke ground on the $84 million safety-improvement project, funded primarily by the 2005 Transportation Partnership Program (TPA) gas tax, in June 2009 and expect to finish this December.

“This project furthers our efforts to keep Washington moving,” said Paula Hammond, Secretary of Transportation. “These improvements will create better traffic flow and reduce collisions on this important corridor.”

Data shows nearly 900 collisions on SR 532 from 2000 to 2008, and more than half of those were congestion-related collisions.

The new bridge is twice as wide as the previous one, has wider shoulders for emergency vehicles and disabled vehicles, a lower profile for better visibility, and meets current earthquake standards.

Many guests commented on the unique sculptures that were unveiled for the first time and will soon be mounted at each of the four corners of the bridge. The sculptures, created by Camano Island artist Debbi Rhodes, depict local wildlife and will adorn the bridge once demolition of the old bridge is completed.

“I am really pleased with the end result,” said Debbi Rhodes. “To have all of my planning and dreaming work out is incredibly validating.”

The sculptures were generously paid for by contractor Parsons-Kuney, Joint Venture and two non-profits: the Stanwood-Camano Area Foundation and the Camano Arts Association.

For more information, visit the project Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR532. Pictures taken throughout the new bridge construction and vintage photos (courtesy of the Stanwood Area Historical Society) available at: www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/sets/72157622044469081/with/4688029957/.

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