SR 9 - SR 204 Intersection Improvements

The SR 9/SR 204 intersection in Lake Stevens experiences heavy congestion weekdays and weekends, which affects Snohomish County travelers, as well as regional and freight traffic. Highway users also experience backups and delays while trying to access the many businesses that surround this busy intersection.  

In 2016, WSDOT formed a stakeholder advisory group to advise on developing and evaluating improvement options. The group consisted of elected leaders and representatives from the city of Lake Stevens, Snohomish County, area businesses and transit providers. The group members reviewed multiple design options which were presented to the public at open houses in 2017. After hearing public feedback, the group agreed on a preliminary preferred alternative to improve the intersection. However, during design, the project team looked at underground subsurface conditions and discovered the groundwater level is just 9 feet below the surface. This meant the cost, materials and overall feasibility of the preferred alternative needed further review.  

Re-evaluating the design in 2018 allowed for further innovation and cost savings while staying true to the project's purpose, need and traffic performance. The team reviewed a widening option and a roundabout option.  

The revised roundabout option provided better overall benefits than widening or the original alternative, which called for rebuilding SR 9 to travel underneath SR 204.  

Community engagement

The project team provided multiple opportunities for area stakeholders, highway users, area businesses and people who live in Lake Stevens to review improvement options and business access. We held: 

• 11 stakeholder advisory group meetings from 2016 to 2019
• Six open houses for the public between 2016 and 2022
• Four business forums from 2016 to 2021
• Online and in-person community open houses 2022