Contacts:
Julie Kuntz Kelly Marquardt
Communications Specialist II District Director
Snohomish County Public Works Office of Congresswoman Suzan DelBene
Julie.Kuntz@snoco.org Kelly.Marquardt@mail.house.gov
425-388-6059 425-495-6240
Snohomish County, Rep. Suzan DelBene Gather to Celebrate $22.1 Million Grant for New Granite Falls Bridge
Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers and Congresswoman Suzan DelBene join other partners at a press conference on the Granite Falls Bridge 102 replacement project
EVERETT, Wash., April 15, 2022 – The Granite Falls Bridge 102 replacement project is moving forward thanks to federal funding and the support of many members of the congressional delegation, including U.S. Representative Suzan DelBene (WA-01). DelBene, Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers and others will be onsite Friday, April 15, 2022 at 1 p.m. to celebrate funding that makes it possible to maintain access to this vital economic corridor along the Mountain Loop Highway.
Granite Falls Bridge 102 Replacement Project Press Conference:
When: Friday, April 15, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Granite Falls Bridge 102
R.S.V.P. for parking and location information: Julie.Kuntz@snoco.org
For more project information, visit www.snohomishcountywa.gov/608
Why: Celebrate planned bridge replacement – estimated completion date is 2026
Snohomish County Public Works is now in the planning stages to construct a new bridge northeast of Granite Falls, over the South Fork of the Stillaguamish River along the Mountain Loop Highway. The project recently received $22.1 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding America’s Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program – the largest 2021 grant award in Washington state and one of the largest in the country. This bridge provides access to homes, sand and gravel quarries, and logging operations as well as many square miles of hiking, camping and other outdoor activities.
The Granite Falls Bridge 102 is an essential part of the roadways that serve the communities of Granite Falls, Verlot, Robe Valley, and Silverton in Snohomish County. The bridge replacement will expand recreation and tourism by providing direct access to the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. It will also connect a vital freight route used to transport natural resources like timber, sand, and gravel across Washington. In its current state, the bridge is considered functionally obsolete. If the bridge were to fail or close, the detour route is a 94-mile distance and would significantly impair emergency services.
“The Granite Falls Bridge 102 is a prime example of Washington state infrastructure that has been neglected through years of underinvestment. This grant will help make sure this vital recreational and economic transportation route is available to the Snohomish County community for the next generation,” said Congresswoman Suzan DelBene. “I worked hard to help secure this $22.1 million USDOT grant and will continue fighting for additional federal investments in our local infrastructure.”
The project is being awarded a RAISE grant, a federal program that is dedicated to investing in critical road, rail, transit, and port projects across the country. The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was passed by the House and signed into law this month, increased funding for the grant program to a total of $7.5 billion.
About Snohomish County Public Works
Snohomish County Public Works is responsible for approximately 1,600 miles of county roads, more than 200 bridges and manages about 200 traffic control signals. The department also processes nearly 600,000 tons of garbage per year. Its mission is to focus on safety and mobility while practicing fiscal responsibility and preserving the environment. Public Works has won numerous state and national honors for its work and is the largest department within Snohomish County government with approximately 500 employees plus seasonal staff. Its main office is located at 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett, WA 98201. Visit www.snohomishcountywa.gov/PublicWorks or follow the department on Facebook and Twitter for more information about Snohomish County Public Works.