Residents rally to 'Bridge the Boulevard'

Mukilteo residents remind their Everett neighbors to come visit.

Photo courtesy Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce

A view from the Everett side of Edgewater Bridge.

Photo courtesy Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce

Mayor Joe Marine, Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce board members Paul Ellis and Matt Martin, Kiwanis Club of Mukilteo board members Pam and Tim Taylor, and former Mayor Emory Cole and his wife Molly attended the Oct. 30 “Bridge the Boulevard" event near Edgewater Bridge.

Photo courtesy Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce

Christina Stollwerck and J.D. Stollwerck’s business, Stollwerck Plumbing and Sewer, is on Fifth Avenue close to the now-closed Edgewater Bridge.

Photo courtesy Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce

Mukilteo Councilmember Jason Moon holds up a banner encouraging people to visit Old Town and the Mukilteo waterfront.

Photo courtesy Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce

Two youngsters get into the spirit of Wednesday’s “Bridge the Boulevard” event.

Photo courtesy Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce

A Mukilteo resident says hello to his Everett neighbors.

Photo courtesy Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce

Everett residents offer their support.

Photo courtesy Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce

Kids urge Everett residents to support Mukilteo during the Edgewater Bridge replacement project and the closure of the road between Mukilteo and Everett.

Photo courtesy Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce

Posted Thursday, October 31, 2024 4:43 pm

Mayor Joe Marine, City Councilmember Jason Moon, former Mayor Emory Cole, members of the Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis Club of Mukilteo, and residents joined forces with their Everett neighbors for a special “Bridge the Boulevard” commemorative event Oct 30 in recognition of the closure of the Edgewater Bridge.

Many of Wednesday’s attendees either live or work near Edgewater Bridge on Mukilteo Boulevard. The bridge will be closed for an estimated 12-month replacement project.

The bridge spans Mukilteo Boulevard at the city limits between Mukilteo and Everett. There will be no access for commuters, pedestrians, or bicycles along Mukilteo Boulevard, and all will need to take an alternative east-west route. Residents who walk or commute along the boulevard will have no access to either side.

The Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce organized the event. The bridge replacement project was expected to start this summer but was delayed. The project is largely funded by the federal government, contributing $28 million of the $34 million budget.

The 12-month estimate to complete the project is based, in large part, on the logistics of Edgewater Bridge’s location. The City said the bridge is located in a difficult site with private properties around the bridge.

The 78-year-old Edgewater Bridge had reached the end of its useful life. The City said the bridge was safe for daily use but operated under weight restrictions. A major concern is the impact an earthquake might have. About 6,000 vehicles drove across the bridge every day.

Barring any unforeseen lengthy delays, the new Edgewater Bridge should open to traffic in November 2025. While it will take a year to get the bridge reopened to traffic, the project is scheduled to extend into 2026.

The new bridge will:

• be built to modern seismic safety standards

• include 12-foot travel lanes in each direction

• include 6½-foot sidewalks on each side of the bridge

• include 5-foot bike lanes on each side between the sidewalk and the road

For more information about the Edgewater Bridge replacement project see everettwa.gov/edgewater.