Part of I-5 southbound to close for 2 months

A two-month construction project in the middle of Interstate 5's southbound lanes through Everett is expected to cause major traffic slowdowns and backups, with all-day lane closures and occasional evening detours onto city streets for vehicles merging from Highway 2.

Crews tonight are expected to close a 19-foot-wide strip of I-5 between 41st Street and Everett Avenue, creating an island within the flow of southbound traffic. The diversion will remain in place throughout the project.

A December 2006 accident on Pacific Avenue, which passes beneath I-5, is to blame. A truck carrying an excavator struck the underside of the I-5 bridge, seriously damaging a girder.

Crews will dig a 95-foot-long trench in the closed lane to expose the girder, which will be removed and replaced. Then the ripped-up stretch of roadway will be repaved.

About 90,000 vehicles per day travel through that stretch of southbound I-5, said Connie Lewis, a spokeswoman for the project.

The traffic diversion will take advantage of two new southbound lanes recently built — but not yet open — through downtown Everett. Two lanes of traffic will flow along the island's east side, with one to its west.

The diversion will especially affect drivers who plan to exit in the downtown area, at Everett Avenue or 41st Street. Drivers who choose to veer left at the construction island will be unable to access those two exits.

In addition, the Marine View Drive onramp will be closed every night between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. throughout the project.

The worst traffic disruptions will occur at night on about 25 days, when the lane on the west side of the construction island will be closed between Everett and Pacific avenues.

Traffic entering southbound I-5 from Highway 2 will be diverted onto city streets through that stretch, and the 41st Street offramp will be inaccessible.

Diane Brooks: 425-745-7802 or dbrooks@seattletimes.com