WSDOT developed a list of four projects that will improve the safety and travel time along SR 532. The projects are designed to solve a variety of problems by improving signal timing, new turn lanes and new climbing lanes.

Why is WSDOT improving SR 532 from Camano Island to I-5?
SR 532 provides the only connecting route to
the mainland for Camano Island, as well as the
primary connection to and from I-5 for the city of Stanwood and surrounding rural northwest Snohomish County.

The communities along SR 532 from Camano Island to I-5 are growing and traffic demands are increasing proportionately.  Those demands are creating congestion and an increased number of collisions. 

Once complete, the improvements will decrease the time it takes to drive between Camano Island and I-5, ease traffic congestion and increase safety.

The End Result
Improvements along the SR 532 corridor will take many forms.

• Intersections along this route will be improved to make right and left turns easier. 
• Some entrances to businesses and homes will be modified to decrease conflicts with highway traffic.
• The timing between existing traffic signals will be improved. 
• New truck climbing lanes will be constructed just east of Stanwood.
• The General Mark W. Clark Memorial Bridge over the Stillaguamish River will be replaced.
• A barrier to a fish passage will be removed on a tributary of Pilchuck Creek.

Project Benefits
 

• Reduced Congestion - Choke points and congestion will be reduced by new turn lanes, improved signal timing and truck climbing lanes.  Improved traffic flow allows goods, services, and workers to more quickly travel between urban centers such as Seattle and Everett and the Camano Island/Stanwood area.
   
• Increased Safety - New turn lanes will help reduce the number of collisions by allowing a smoother flow of traffic through intersections.  Improved driveways will keep cars entering and exiting the highway under safer conditions.
   
• Maintained Infrastructure - Replacing the Gen. Mark Clark Memorial Bridge with a new bridge that has an expected service life of 75 years will eliminate the cost and time used to maintain the current 57-year-old bridge.
   
• A Better Environment - Improved fish passage in area waterways and better control of the road's storm-water runoff are some of the ways we are improving local habitat.

What is the project timeline?
Design funding for these projects began in July 2005.

The first project is in Stanwood and is scheduled to go up for bid by contractors by May 2008.

Construction on all segments of this project is scheduled to be underway by 2008.

Construction of the last project is scheduled to be complete in 2013.

Public Involvement
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us.  Public participation opportunities will continue to be presented through the design process, including public meetings.  Contact the project design office for more details on project involvement.

Environmental Protection
We make every effort to assess and minimize environmental impacts from our projects.  A detailed analysis of the project's environmental impacts will be completed and, if necessary an appropriate plan for mitigation of impacts will be developed and documented as part of the Environmental Documentation and Permitting process.
Please visit the WSDOT Environmental Services Web site for more information.

Increasing safety is one of our priorities
As the communities of Camano Island, Stanwood and the surrounding area continue to grow so too do the number of collisions on SR 532.  Most collisions along this corridor occur in intersections.  Improving intersections by creating turn lanes and inter-connecting the signals will help relieve traffic congestion and keep drivers safer.  Restricting turns at other locations through the corridor will also help reduce the number of rear end and angle collisions.

Will this project impact tribal resources?
Tribes with an interest in or land near this construction project will be notified during the environmental assessment phase of the project. To learn more about Section 106 Tribal Consultation (also called government-to-government tribal consultation process) please visit WSDOT's Tribal Liaison page, where you'll find the WSDOT Centennial Accord Plan and WSDOT's Tribal Consultation Policy (Adopted by the Transportation Commission on Feb. 19, 2003).

Financial Information
 

This project is funded through the following fund sources.

• 2005 Gas Tax (Partnership Funding) - $72,096,656
• Pre-existing State Funds - $8,240,877 
• Total Funding From All Sources - $80,337,533