New Interchange and Ramps Opening in Marysville
A New Era for Marysville’s Transportation
After more than a decade of planning, construction challenges, and significant financial investment, a new interchange is finally set to connect south Marysville to Interstate 5 (I-5) and a nearby state highway. This development marks a major milestone for the city, offering improved access and reduced traffic congestion for residents and commuters alike.
The project involves the addition of a roundabout along with new on- and off-ramps that will link I-5 to Highway 529. This highway, which serves as a critical route between Everett and Marysville, has experienced ongoing traffic issues due to frequent repairs. The new interchange aims to address these challenges by providing smoother transitions for drivers.
One of the key components of the project is the extension of a northbound High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane from Everett to Marysville. This lane, which opened in August 2024, is designed to ease congestion along a heavily used stretch of highway that sees approximately 65,000 vehicles per day. The new northbound off-ramp will also allow drivers to access Marysville via I-5 without having to cross railroad tracks, which often cause delays due to their grade-level crossing.
Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring emphasized the significance of this improvement, stating, “If you live in Marysville or commute through Marysville, you know how big of a deal that is.” The city celebrated the progress of the interchange with regional partners at a ribbon-cutting event, although the facility is not yet open to the public.
According to the Washington Department of Transportation, the on-ramps and new roundabout are expected to open by mid-August. The northbound ramp is nearly complete, but it still requires signage. The southbound ramp is still in the final stages of grading and paving. Once any of the ramps are ready, they will be opened, but the roundabout will not be operational until both ramps are fully completed.
The $123 million interchange improvements have been over a decade in the making. Mayor Nehring first raised discussions about a new interchange 12 years ago. The project received initial funding of $84 million from the Connecting Washington transportation package approved by the state in 2015. However, rising costs due to inflation caused delays, and by 2020, there were no takers when the project was put up for competitive bidding. In response, state legislators provided an additional $30 million in 2022 to account for inflationary pressures, allowing construction to finally begin in 2023.
In 2024, the construction of the new HOV lane on I-5 coincided with months-long repairs on the state highway, leading to regional traffic backups during peak commute hours. Robin Mayhew, a deputy regional administrator at the Washington Department of Transportation, acknowledged the inconvenience faced by drivers, saying, “We know that this has caused hardship and pain for drivers in the cities of Everett and Marysville. We appreciate your patience.”
While adding more lanes to a highway does not always resolve traffic problems, this project introduces more options for drivers to enter the city via I-5. The new ramps also connect to the First Street Bypass, a $22 million extension of First Street that the city opened in 2020 to relieve pressure from the frequently congested Fourth Street.
Additionally, Community Transit is set to launch a new bus rapid transit line between Marysville and Everett by 2031, offering another alternative for commuters. Hazen Shopbell, a member of the Tulalip Tribes Board of Directors, expressed his satisfaction with the project’s completion, noting, “I don’t know how many times I’ve been stuck in traffic because the train is coming.”
As the new interchange nears completion, residents and commuters can look forward to a more efficient and less stressful travel experience in the region.