MARYSVILLE — Drivers on State Route 529 can expect road closures on Ebey Slough Bridge the week of July 26 as construction crews work on building the bridge’s replacement.

Northbound SR 529 across the Ebey Slough Bridge will completely close from 9 p.m. July 28 to 10 a.m. July 29 for concrete barrier placement.

Work began the week of July 19 on the new Ebey Slough Bridge to replace the current stretch of State Route 529 connecting Marysville and Everett.

Granite Construction crews, contracted by the Washington State Department of Transportation, broke ground on a three-year $50 million project to replace the existing 85-year-old bridge with a four-lane, fixed-span steel bridge.

“There are only three state-owned bridges older than the Ebey Slough Bridge,” WSDOT Project Engineer Janice Fahning said. “The new bridge will improve traffic flow and safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists, and will help reduce maintenance costs.”

The new bridge will have two lanes in each direction, with separate bicycle lanes and sidewalks on each side of the bridge. It will be a taller fixed-span bridge, rather than a swing-span bridge. The existing bridge swings on its axis to allow marine traffic to pass, a process that typically takes about 10 minutes and causes delays for vehicle traffic.

“The new Ebey Slough Bridge is critical to improving safety by reducing backups on the high-speed portions of northbound SR 529,” Marysville Mayor Dennis Kendall said. “For the long term, the Ebey Slough Bridge is a vital connection that serves the large residential growth in southern Marysville to the Everett regional center and Naval Station Everett.”

SR 529 is a main commuter route between Marysville and Everett. About 17,000 drivers use this section of SR 529 each day. The existing bridge is at the end of its service life, and does not meet current traffic needs. The new bridge will help reduce congestion by handling more vehicle traffic. It will also reduce the need for costly repairs and eliminate the cost of staffing the old moveable bridge.

The existing Ebey Slough Bridge will remain open during construction. Crews will build the new bridge to the east of the existing bridge. They will also realign SR 529 to meet the new bridge, and add a two-way left-turn lane just north of the bridge. The project is expected to be completed in late 2013.

In addition to the closure of northbound SR 529 across the Ebey Slough Bridge from 9 p.m. July 28 to 10 a.m. July 29, drivers should plan for other overnight closures as construction continues. Crews are scheduled to complete the project in 2013. For project details, graphics and video, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr529/ebeysloughbridge.

View SR 529 Ebey Slough Bridge in a larger map