MARYSVILLE – Speed limits on southbound Interstate 5 will slow to 40 miles per hour next week between Everett and Marysville because of road work.
The state Department of Transportation has tried to start work for three weeks on an expansion joint project, but has been thwarted by inclement weather.
In an effort to try to catch up some, DOT plans to keep lanes narrow all next week so work can be done at night if weather allows. Previous plans called for weekend work only.
The project will replace expansion joints over Ebey and Steamboat sloughs.
Favorable weather this week means work will start Thursday night to restripe three narrow lanes on the west side of the road, reducing speeds to 40 mph. Friday evening only two of those lanes will be used as work on the expansion joints begins. On Monday morning the third lane will reopen.
The same plan is scheduled for the following weekend.
On March 21, lanes will be widened and speed limits will return to 60 mph.
Also, on Thursday, the 4th Street onramp to southbound I-5 will be closed from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. for striping work. A signed detour will be in place. That will also take place Sunday, March 20, to the morning of Monday, March 21 from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
However, WSDOT says the slower speed limit could continue if work is delayed at all because of weather issues.
“The southbound I-5 commute out of Marysville will take longer than normal as long as the lanes are narrowed and the speed limit reduced, so drivers should plan accordingly.” WSDOT traffic engineer Mike Swires said.
Eight weekends worth of work will give crews the space and time they need to replace aging and deteriorating expansion joints in both directions of I-5 on the Steamboat and Ebey Slough bridges.
Due to the size of the joints, they need to be replaced during weekends to allow enough time to chip out the old concrete, remove the existing joints, install the new ones, pour new concrete and let it cure.
