October 30, 2025

Lynnwood seeks contractor to build new bridge over I-5

Rendering courtesy of city of Lynnwood [enlarge]

The Poplar Way Extension Bridge aims to relieve congestion along 196th Street and around Alderwood Mall.

The city of Lynnwood is seeking a contractor to build a six-lane multimodal bridge over Interstate 5 to relieve traffic in the city center and around Alderwood Mall.

The new pre-stressed concrete girder bridge will provide an alternative to the busy 196th Street crossing of I-5. The Poplar Way Extension Bridge will be built between the intersection of 196th Street Southwest/state Route 524 and Poplar Way and the intersection of 33rd Avenue West and Alderwood Mall Boulevard.

A notice of the city's request for bids ran in Tuesday's DJC. Proposals are due at 2 p.m. on Dec. 9.

The project's been in the works for over a decade. The city estimated a few years back that the new bridge, a Connecting Lynnwood Project, would carry approximately 30,000 vehicles per day, relieving congestion on the Alderwood Mall Parkway bridge by 37%.

Plans for the bridge include a protected sidewalk along the west side, and a protected shared-use path along the east side. The contractor will modify the intersections to fit the width and profile of the new bridge, widen and restripe portions of the roadway, and build a new tunnel so the Interurban Trail can pass beneath the new bridge.

Construction is estimated at $38 million to $43 million, according to bid materials. The project received grant funds of $3.7 million for design and $3.1 million for right of way. The construction phase has $45 million in federal and state grant funding squared away, including a $25 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant the DJC reported in 2022.

Work includes improving and extending Poplar Way over I-5 by clearing and grubbing, and building the bridge and the trail overcrossing structure as well as retaining walls, concrete traffic barriers, curbs, gutters, sidewalks and traffic control and lighting systems.

The contractor will replace the water system, install catch basins, stormwater biofiltration units, and membrane flow control devices. The project also includes permanent signing, pavement marking, landscaping, irrigation, erosion and water pollution control, and traffic control elements.

The project must be completed within 470 working days of the notice to proceed.

The city said reducing congestion at these busy interchanges will result in fewer back-ups onto I-5, reduced carbon emissions and safer roads for all modes of travel.

Project plans show Perteet of Everett is a consultant on the project.