MOUNT VERNON, Wash. — The SR 536 Skagit River/Division Street Bridge in Mount Vernon will fully close to all non-emergency motor vehicles beginning Sunday, Nov. 1. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced the closure as part of an accelerated plan to complete the bridge preservation project ahead of schedule.
WSDOT says they developed the full closure plan alongside project contractors and Mount Vernon officials to allow crews to complete the remaining work in about two weeks.
The WSDOT says that closing the structure entirely allows work to proceed faster than under partial lane closures. The agency noted that “a full closure will give crews full access to the bridge structure and allow them to work more efficiently across the entire bridge instead of maintaining traffic through the work zone,” adding that “it gives crews the best chance to fully open the bridge for the holiday season.”
During the closure, both directions of vehicle traffic will be detoured via State Route 20 and Interstate 5, though adverse weather conditions such as rain, wind, and cold temperatures could extend the timeline.
While passenger and freight vehicles must use the detour, non-motorized travel across the river will remain available.
The preservation project addresses maintenance needs on the structure, which carries approximately 18,000 vehicles per day and has not been painted since 1990.
WSDOT says the work involves comprehensive structural repairs beyond cosmetic repainting.
“Crews aren’t just putting a fresh coat of gray over what’s there,” the agency said. “They’re removing old paint, rust and debris, inspecting the steel, repairing or replacing corroded pieces and adding several coats of paint to preserve the bridge and extend its service life.”
Until the full closure takes effect on Nov. 1, the bridge will maintain its current traffic configuration with eastbound traffic closed.
Once the full closure begins on Nov. 1, the bridge will remain closed to passenger and freight vehicles until work is finished.