US 2 is one of only two year-round highways across Washington's Cascade Mountain range and plays a vital role in the state's transportation infrastructure. From 2008-2017, WSDOT invested nearly $60 million in safety improvements on US 2 between Everett and the Stevens Pass summit. These projects added roundabouts, dedicated turn lanes, signals traffic cameras, new pavement, electronic message and warning signs, rumble strips and reduced speed limits. More improvements will be made along the corridor with this $17 million Connecting Washington project. Working with the local leadership and communities along the corridor between Everett and Stevens Pass, WSDOT is working on 11 safety and traffic improvements with construction beginning as early as 2025.
$16.65 million from the Connecting Washington Account.
An overview of the 11 safety improvement sites for this project:
US 2 milepost 12.95 – Fryelands Boulevard and Roosevelt Road
We will install truck aprons at the northwest and southeast corners, reduce the westbound right turn lane length, extend the shoulder to 163rd Avenue Southeast and widen crosswalks to 10 feet.
US 2 milepost 13.88 – 179th Avenue Southeast
We will install truck aprons at the northwest and southeast corners, mark crosswalk in the slip lane and add blank-out sign for the train crossing.
US 2 milepost 14.37 – State Route 522
We will upgrade the northwest curb ramp and install a truck apron at the northeast corner.
US 2 milepost 14.57 – North Kelsey Street
We will move the northwest to northeast crossing and curb ramps, widen the north/south crosswalk markings, mark the crosswalk in the slip lane and add a dotted extension line for east/west U-turns.
US 2 milepost 14.92 – SR 203 and Chain Lake Road
We will install a truck apron at the northwest corner, add crosswalks to the slip lanes and tighten the slip lane width.
US 2 milepost 15.15 – Ann Street and Woods Creek Road
We will widen the sidewalk on the north side of US 2, reduce the access width to a parking lot, move the bus stop and mark the crosswalk at Ann Street.
US 2 milepost 15.22 – East Main Street and Old Owen Road
We will tighten the northeast corner slip lane and add a crosswalk to the slip lane from US 2 to Old Owen Road.
US 2 milepost 16.16 to 21.40 – Monroe to Sultan
We will mitigate crossovers and passing-related crashes by adding a rumble strip from milepost 17.96 to 18.38 and create a no-passing zone at milepost 17.08 to 17.98, 18.80 to 18.87 and 19.97 to 20.03.
US 2 milepost 21.57 – Old Owen Road and Fern Bluff Road in Sultan
We will replace the signalized intersection with a roundabout.
US 2 milepost 25.85 – 365th Avenue Southeast
We will install a crosswalk, prohibit parking near the crosswalk and add crosswalk signage.
US 2 milepost 27.91 – 1st Street in Goldbar
We will reconstruct the northeast corner curb ramp, construct a bulb out at the northeast corner and install an east/west and north/south crosswalk markings.