SnoCoSqueeze I-5 work returns to northbound I-5, along with overnight closure at 116th Street Northeast

Drivers near Everett and Marysville should plan ahead now for two separate Interstate 5 projects that will cause extra congestion starting Thursday, April 28 – including another round of #SnoCoSqueeze expansion joint replacement work.
The #SnoCoSqueeze weekend work will include reduced and narrowed lanes on the Ebey Slough Bridge as well as the closure of northbound State Route 529 on-ramp, which will cause extra traffic on several area roads. In addition, all lanes of northbound I-5 at 116th Street Northwest will be closed for two hours during the early morning hours of Friday, April 29.
Overnight lane closures Thursday for restriping
Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will restripe and shift northbound I-5 lanes to the right on Thursday night, April 28. There will still be three through-lanes on I-5, but there also will be a temporary but significant change to the State Route 529 on-ramp to northbound I-5:
Drivers using the SR 529 ramp will merge directly on to I-5.
The dedicated lane from SR 529 will be temporarily eliminated.
The exit-only lane to SR 528/4th Street will be temporarily eliminated.
Drivers may only exit to SR 528/4th Street from the right through-lane.
The temporary merge will remain in place at least through May 10.
Weekend work begins Friday night, April 29
Beginning at 9:30 p.m. Friday, April 29, northbound I-5 will be reduced to two narrow through-lanes as contractors begin replacing expansion joints on the left side of the northbound Ebey Slough Bridge.
In addition:
The SR 529 on-ramp to northbound I-5 will be closed.
Only one lane of I-5 will be open overnight Friday, April 29, and again on Sunday night, May 1.
Three narrow I-5 lanes and the SR 529 on-ramp will reopen for the morning commute by 5 a.m. Monday, May 2.
An online illustration of the changes drivers can expect before and during the weekend closure is available for drivers to view.
Plan now for a longer drive
As the weekend work is underway, significant backups are expected.
“In addition to I-5 backups, drivers will see more congestion than usual in Everett and Marysville,” said WSDOT Traffic Engineer Mike Swires. “With the added closure of the SR 529 ramp on the weekends, expect backups to spill onto city streets.”
Drivers should also plan for delays on State Route 9.
I-5 closes overnight Thursday at 116th Street NE
Drivers should also be aware of the overnight closure of I-5 northbound at 116th Street Northeast from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Friday, April 29, as contractors working for the Tulalip Tribes move a large construction crane across the interstate in order to continue work on the new 116th Street overpass.
Tools to plan your weekend commute
A Snohomish County area traffic map is available online with real time traffic cameras and travel times.
WSDOT’s mobile app offers information for travelers on the go.
@wsdot_traffic will provide updates about this project using the hashtag #SnoCoSqueeze.
The What’s Happening Now page chronicles closures and issues affecting travelers.
Consider carpooling and other commute and travel choices.
Hyperlinks within the release:
Expansion joint replacement www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/UnionSteamboatEbeyBridgeRpr/default.htm
Online illustration www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/UnionSteamboatEbeyBridgeRpr/diagram.htm
New 116th Street overpass http://projects.tulaliptribes-nsn.gov/116th-interchange/index.aspx
Traffic map www.wsdot.com/traffic/cameras/marysville.aspx
Mobile app www.wsdot.wa.gov/Inform/mobile.htm
@wsdot_traffic www.twitter.com/wsdot_traffic
What’s Happening Now www.wsdot.wa.gov/construction/pugetsound/today.htm
Commute and travel choices www.wsdot.wa.gov/choices/
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