EVERETT – Countless residential, commercial, and emergency service vehicles rely on county roads each day. Routine travel paired with exposure to the elements, including winter weather, excessive rain, and summer heat, contribute to a natural breakdown of roadways over time. Snohomish County Public Works’ annual road resurfacing program offers a cost-effective, multi-year approach for preserving vital infrastructure to keep travelers moving smoothly and safely.
“This year’s resurfacing work focuses on the most urgent areas across our 1,600-mile road network,” Snohomish County Engineer and Public Works Deputy Director Doug McCormick said. “Rising material costs and less overall revenue have limited our current program. We’re working on what we can to limit more costly repairs in the future.”
This year’s resurfacing program includes approximately 48.5 miles of chip seal and 4.5 miles of asphalt overlay across 89 road sections. Pre-leveling work includes patching potholes, improving uneven or failing pavement sections, repairing subgrade and drainage issues, and trimming vegetation. Chip seal extends the life of a given road surface by an additional seven to 10 years and costs about one-third as much as an asphalt overlay.
Paving Program
Paving work takes place between May and September. There are several sections across the county where work will take place. Notable projects include:
- Ash Way Overlay – Asphalt overlay between 164th St SW to just north of the Ash Way Park and Ride. Visit the Ash Way Overlay/Paving webpage for additional information and project updates.
- Lake Stevens (Cavalero area) – Asphalt overlay continues during summer 2026. Plans include along 112th Dr SE, 27th St SE, 23rd Pl SE, and 24th Pl SE. Additional neighborhood roads are scheduled for overlays in the coming years.
- Paine Field Airport – Paving work is scheduled this summer within airport property along the following roads: 24th Pl W, 29th Ave W, 31st Pl W, 94th St SW, and 109th St SW. This project also includes the reconstruction and installation of ADA-compliant curb ramps within the project area.
- 2026 Overlay and ADA Program (west Bothell area) – Asphalt overlay of approximately 1.5 miles of pavement and restructuring or adding ADA-compliant curb ramps within overlay limits.
The Paving Program focuses on preserving pavement before it fails by milling and/or repairing pavement as needed and placing a new layer of asphalt on top. A well-maintained paved road has a serviceable life of 15-20 years depending upon location, traffic volumes, weather, and truck or heavy vehicle usage. The work will be completed by paving contractors and county crews.
Chip Seal Program
Pre-leveling work began in April. Chip sealing work will begin in July and is expected to be completed by the end of September. For the week following chip seal placement, a temporary speed limit of 20 miles per hour will be in effect where work was recently completed. Adherence to this temporary speed limit allows the chips to bind to the asphalt and minimizes the likelihood of loose, flying chips causing damage to a vehicle’s body or windshield. Crews will return approximately within a week to sweep up any loose chips, adjust utilities and land survey monuments, and replace pavement striping if required. Both chip seal and paving are weather dependent work. All preliminary schedules are subject to change.
Paving and chip seal work is scheduled for the following unincorporated areas of Snohomish County:
County Area Number of Road Locations Approximate Road Miles Arlington 8 5 Miles Bothell 20 2.5 Miles Cathcart 2 1.5 Miles Lake Stevens/Machias 20 10.5 Miles Lynnwood 1 0.5 Miles Marysville/Tulalip 16 13 Miles Monroe 3 5 Miles Snohomish 9 4.5 Miles Stanwood 10 10.5 Miles
For more information about the Paving Program or Chip Seal Program and maps of the identified roads, visit www.snohomishcountywa.gov/resurfacing
Relevant URLs:
- Snohomish County Public Works website: bit.ly/SnoCoPW
- Road Resurfacing (Paving and Chip Seal) webpage: bit.ly/PavingandChipSeal
- 2026 Paving and Chip Seal Projects List: bit.ly/2026PavingandChipSealList
- 2026 Paving and Chip Seal Projects Map: bit.ly/2026PavingandChipSealMap
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 in excess of 200 traffic control signals. The department also processes more than 800,000 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 second-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, Instagram, and X for more information about Snohomish County Public Works.
Source: Snohomish County Public Works
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
