Project overview
Our contractor crews strengthened four bridges along State Route 526 in Everett so they can better withstand a major earthquake. They wraped steel “jackets” around the columns that support the bridges to hold the concrete together in an earthquake, reducing the chance of collapse. They also added concrete and reinforcing steel between the girders that support the bridges to keep them from moving in the event of an earthquake.
What to expect
Major construction has completed on this project. No more closures are expected at this time.
The on-ramp from Seaway Boulevard to eastbound State Route 526 was one of four Everett bridges that was seismically strengthened during the project.
We retrofited the bridges that carry SR 526 over Airport Road, Hardeson Road and Casino Road in Everett and the Seaway Road bridge over SR 526 in Everett.
This work is part of our seismic retrofit program, designed to help our critical infrastructure survive a major earthquake. Being able to quickly move supplies to affected areas is vital to earthquake recovery and our highways play an important role in that.
The columns that support overpasses have rebar inside them to provide structural strength, but in a major earthquake the concrete can still crack; if enough becomes dislodged the columns could collapse. Adding steel jackets will help keep the concrete in place, reducing the chance of a collapse and keeping the highways open to deliver supplies to aid recovery.
