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October 27, 2005

Construction Industry Spotlight: Snohomish County struggles with a shortage of construction workers

  • With about $1.7 billion in projects under way or planned, the supply of construction workers is expected to be overtaxed in the coming years.
    • By TERRY STEPHENS
    Special to the Journal

    CONSTRUCTION projects are plentiful in Snohomish County, reflecting the improving economy, and more are coming. That's the good news. The bad news is that there may not be enough skilled workers to build all of the projects planned for the county.

    An arsenal of projects
    • With the start of a $10 million contract for the reconstruction of the city’s sea wall, the Everett waterfront has begun the first stage of a $200 million-plus, 10-year redevelopment of the North Marina. The resulting Port Gardner Wharf neighborhood will have condominiums, retail stores and marine industries.

    • Everett has chosen the Oliver McMillan Co. as the developer of a 100-acre Snohomish River frontage site for a $200 million mixed-use development.

    • Providence Everett Medical Center has announced a $400 million expansion and upgrade at its north Everett site, due to begin in 2006.

    • There is $260 million earmarked for the widening of the I-5 corridor through Everett and for the 41st Street overpass revisions, both under construction. Unless Initiative 912 blocks the state Legislature’s recent gas tax increase, there will also be millions of dollars for more road construction throughout the county.

    • The multimillion-dollar expansion of the Everett Mall and the construction of the Future of Flight Center and Boeing Tour facility, as well as the Hilton Garden Inn, at Paine Field are close to completion.

    • In Bothell, $80 million is planned for infrastructure improvements, with $50 million tagged for re-routing Highway 522.

    • Edmonds will be spending $25 million to build a new ferry terminal.

    • Mukilteo has $100 million of waterfront redevelopment planned, including a new ferry terminal and marina.

    • Mountlake Terrace will be redeveloping its downtown retail core

    • Lynnwood has rezoned much of its older business district for high-rise buildings up to 26 stories as part of its City Center project.

    • Monroe has opened up 55 acres of prime developable land a block north of Highway 2, and the state prison in Monroe is designing a 176-bed expansion of its hospital.

    • Marysville is planning to extend water and sewer service to 500 newly annexed acres west of I-5 to attract new commercial development.

    • Just north of Woodinville and the Snohomish County line, King County is moving ahead with plans for the $500 million Brightwater wastewater treatment plant adjacent to Highway 9, a project planned for 2006-2010.

    A September report by researcher Stephen Baldwin of the county's Workforce Development Council warns that the billions of dollars of local projects being built, and those coming in the next few years, will overtax the supply of trained workers.


     
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