Broadway Bridge Over Downtown Everett Rail Line Off Limits to Big Rigs and Busses

Broadway bridge in Everett, WA

The Broadway Bridge is really showing its age.

The City of Everett has imposed tighter weight restrictions on the Broadway bridge between Hewitt and California streets in downtown Everett.

Here’s the official word from Meghan Pembroke at the city…

Everett’s city engineer is advising heavy-vehicle operators that a weight-limit restriction on the Broadway Bridge has been extended to all lanes of travel, effective Thursday, June 19.

Previously, the weight restriction was limited to the right lanes of the bridge only, but will now span all lanes of travel on Broadway between Hewitt Avenue and California Street. The allowable weight limit will remain at 7 tons for single-unit trucks and buses, 9 tons for semi-trucks, and 11 tons for tandem-trailer trucks. Typically, cars, minivans and pickup trucks are under the 7-ton weight limit. Parking on the structure will remain closed to all traffic.

“The bridge provides an important connection in our community,” said Ryan Sass, city engineer. “We need everyone’s help to keep over-limit vehicles off the bridge so that it can continue to serve passenger vehicles until the replacement project begins this fall.”

The expanded restriction follows a scheduled annual inspection by bridge inspectors from Snohomish County and a recommendation from the bridge project structural engineer from Trantech Engineering LLC that the load restriction be expanded to include all lanes. Vehicles weighing over the posted limits will need to follow the designated truck route around the bridge, in order to keep the bridge in operation through the end of the year.

Broadway bridge detour in Everett

Here is the detour route for large trucks now but for everyone once the bridge closes.

Signs displaying weight restrictions will be posted on both sides of the bridge, and a truck route will be signed east to Cedar Street to designate the alternate routes: www.everettwa.org/Get_PDF.aspx?pdfID=8011.

Everett is working with transit agencies, the Port of Everett, emergency responders, local businesses and schools to help reroute large vehicles. Anyone spotting large trucks or buses still using the bridge should contact Everett Public Works at 425-257-8800 to report the name of the company. City staff will contact the business to inform them about the designated truck route.

The bridge serves as a link between south and north Everett as well as downtown, and also carries commuter traffic north to SR 529. Roughly 30,000 vehicles per day travel across the 102-year-old structure.

The bridge, which crosses over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad mainline, was originally built in 1912 and was last renovated in 1931. In 2008, the city engineer placed load restrictions on the outside lanes of the bridge and prohibited parking on the structure.

The bridge replacement project is scheduled to begin late fall 2014, when contractors will establish a full detour route and close the bridge. Demolition of the existing 100-foot by 100-foot span and construction of the new bridge is expected to begin in January. Click here for more information.

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My Everett News is a hyperlocal news website featuring news and events in Everett, Washington. We also cover City of Everett information and items of interest to those who live and work in Everett.

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