Replacement of Edgewater Bridge Finally Begins This Summer

An overhead view of the Edgewater Bridge

Construction of a new Edgewater Bridge will begin this summer. The City of Everett will close Mukilteo Boulevard to replace the 78-year-old Edgewater Bridge that has reached the end of its useful life. The bridge is currently safe for daily use but operates under weight restrictions and was determined to be vulnerable to failure in an earthquake.

“The Edgewater Bridge is an essential connection between Everett and Mukilteo, a roadway many of our residents, visitors and workforce rely upon daily, so I’m very glad the replacement will start soon,” said Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin. “I want to thank Representative Rick Larsen for being a tireless advocate for the infrastructure investments Everett needs to ensure our resiliency, create more jobs and keep people and our economy moving.”

While the new bridge is constructed, Mukilteo Boulevard will be closed for approximately 12 months. Commuters, pedestrians, and bicyclists will need to find alternate east-west routes for travel between Everett and Mukilteo.

“The new bridge is a long-term investment in our transportation system and will provide a safe connection between our communities for years to come,” said Ryan Sass, director of Public Works. “We know this project will be an inconvenience for residents of our region, but rest-assured that we are taking every step possible to keep the project moving forward and on schedule. The greater inconvenience to our community would be the failure of the bridge in an earthquake.”

There are three major bridges along Mukilteo Boulevard that are within Everett city limits. Engineering assessments of the bridges determined that two of the three, Edgewater and Merrill and Ring Creek, would be vulnerable in a major earthquake and need replacement. The third bridge, Maple Heights, underwent seismic retrofitting in 2020. If two of the three bridges along West Mukilteo Boulevard were lost in a major earthquake, portions of several neighborhoods could be completely isolated with no road access in or out.

The City of Everett incorporated community input into the design of the bridge, including the railings, light poles and gateway design elements. The bridge straddles the border of Everett and Mukilteo and will welcome travelers into both cities. In addition to the design elements, the new bridge will include wider sidewalks and bike lanes on each side of the road.

During construction, portions of Edgewater Park will be used for construction staging. The park will be renovated once the new bridge is complete, and Mukilteo Boulevard is reopened.

To learn more about the Edgewater Bridge Replacement, visit everettwa.gov/edgewater.