One of Marysville’s big priorities is maintaining more than 420 lane-miles of arterial and residential city streets.

This summer contractor crews have been working on our 2019 Pavement Preservation projects. Funded by the Transportation Benefit District that Marysville voters approved in 2014, this is an annual list of roadways designated for repair, paving, restriping and replacement of sidewalk ramps to meet ADA requirements. This week, crews are working overnight to wrap up work on State Avenue between 80th and 88th Streets NE.

The other roadways are near Costco in the Lakewood area:

•27th Avenue NE from 172nd Street NE to south of 166th Place NE;

•171st Place NE and 169th Place NE, both between 27th Avenue NE and Twin Lakes Avenue; and

•Twin Lakes Avenue from 171st Place NE to south of 166th Place NE.

Meanwhile, have you seen the massive piles of rocks and dirt south of 1st Street and east of State Avenue? Over the past few months, about 25,000 tons of rocks were driven into stone columns that will form a stable foundation for the future 1st Street Bypass. Next, a 7-foot layer of crushed stone will replace the surface layer of wetland soil. After that new foundation settles over the next few months, we expect to begin construction in early 2020. The bypass will complement a new south Marysville I-5 freeway exit connecting with Highway 529 and planned and funded by the state. Taken together, these projects will offer a transportation alternative that avoids the congested 4th Street exit and bypasses train traffic. We expect to complete the 1st Street Bypass next year. The state project is in the design phase, with construction planned to begin in 2021 and to be completed in 2022. Finally, we are preparing to go to bid in October on the expansion of State Avenue between 100th and 104th Streets NE. When complete, this section of State will also have two northbound and southbound lanes each, a center turn lane, sidewalks, enclosed stormwater drainage and improved roadway lighting. Construction should get underway in early spring 2020. The city will build portions of the new bridge west of the existing State Avenue. Traffic will then shift to the new elevated roadway so crews can remove the old roadway and complete bridge construction. We expect to be able to maintain traffic in both directions throughout construction with minimal interruptions.

After this $10.6 million Phase I section from 100th to 104th is complete in 2021, the city will look to secure another $7.9 million in funding for Phase 2, the section between 104th and 116th.

We are grateful to the state for $6.2 million for Phase I and for state investments in many other important Marysville infrastructure projects.

Jon Nehring is mayor of Marysville. His column runs monthly.