EVERETT — Drivers headed to Everett on southbound State Route 529 will need to use an alternate route on Thursday, March 21.

Crews will close all southbound lanes near the Snohomish River Bridge at 8 p.m. The highway will reopen at 4 a.m. Friday, March 22. Drivers will be detoured to Frontage Road and north to the Interstate 5 on-ramp in Marysville. Local access to Smith and Spencer islands will be maintained.

During the closure, crews will take additional measurements of the 59-year-old structure as they finalize work plans for bridge repairs scheduled to begin later this spring. The repairs involve replacing large pieces of machinery that raise and lower the bridge drawspan.

For more information on the project, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR529/SnohomishBridgeRepair/default.htm. Information about other Snohomish County road closures are available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/northwest/snohomish/construction.