Everett Broadway Bridge Replacement Pushed Back

At more than 100 years old the bridge over the railroad track on Broadway between Hewitt and California is long overdue for replacement. While plans have been in the works for some time the City of Everett says it will still be a while before the bridge is replaced. Here’s the latest update issued by Meghan Pembroke at the city…

City engineers have released an updated timeline for the Broadway Bridge replacement project. The full closure of the bridge will likely not occur until early 2015, though the final schedule sequence will be determined by the contractor.

The project is expected to be advertised for bids by the end of June, and work is likely to begin in October or November. The first element of work will be to prepare the detour route in advance of the bridge closure.

“The good news for drivers and Everett residents is that we just completed an inspection of the bridge and there is no need for an immediate closure,” said Ryan Sass, city engineer. “Our first priority is to keep drivers safe while we try to minimize impacts to this important roadway.”

The project was scheduled to begin in early 2014, but challenges in obtaining final project funding delayed the start date. The city did not receive the full requested amount of Bridge Replacement Advisory Committee (BRAC)-directed funding from the Washington State Department of Transportation, leaving a $970,000 gap. The remaining project funding will be supplemented from traffic mitigation funds.

Crews are not allowed to work over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks from October through December, the railroad’s major freight season, so the selected contractor will likely schedule the bridge closure for early 2015.

The Broadway Bridge is over 100 years old. More than 30,000 vehicle trips pass through this stretch of Broadway daily. Crews will demolish and replace the 100-foot by 100-foot span over the main BNSF railroad line between Hewitt Avenue and California Street.

The work requires a full closure of the bridge for up to a year while crews demolish the existing bridge and construct a completely new bridge from the foundations up.  Drivers will follow signed detours or use alternate routes during the full closure of the bridge.

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