Road access to Anacortes

[Crewdog]

I just read about the horrific bridge collapse on I-5 and our thoughts go to the injured. It could have been a lot worse.

Are there any local folks who can say if vehicle and trailer access to Anacortes is affected by this incident?

Looking at Street Atlas and gleaning the Seattle news, it seems like we can trailer in, but wanted to check in time to make alternate marina launch plans for Desolation Sound trip if needed.

Thanks,

Bill

 

[walldog]

We heard about the I5 bridge collapse at dinner last night. A heavily traveled roadway, very fortunate that no one was seriously hurt.

You should still be able to reach Anacortes by exiting at Mt. Vernon, a few miles before the closed bridge. We have used that exit with our motorhome towing our Jeep. It is a bit tight, but actually a bit shorter than going to the Burlington exit. Most GPS will route you this way anyway. I am sure you will need to allow extra time. As time gets closer, I am sure we will know more about travel alternatives.

 

[R-Matey]

Another exit to consider is the Conway-LaConner exit. It is located south of Mount Vernon. Can't recall the exit number but we used it several times towing our C-Dory. This road will take you through the farmlands to Highway 20. Turn left at the FarmHouse Restaurant and you're about 8 miles from Anacortes.

 

[Randy & Ida]

As R-Matey said, however, the roundabout at LaConnor is tight. You don't have to go into LaConnor unless you want to. Take the Conway exit (#221) and just follow the road through/past Conway. You will cross the Skagit river twice (on and off Fir Island). This road eventually becomes "Best Road". Stay on Best Road and it will take you directly to Hwy 20. Take a left at the light and head to Anacortes.
Randy & Ida

 

[Dog Islander]

There is one more option from those heading north on I-5, take the ferry from Mukilteo to Clinton and travel up Whidbey Island to Anacortes. That said, it would be costly taking a trailer on to the ferry and if it will be on a weekend there would be a significant wait. Monitor the travel cameras on the WSDOT site (they have an App for that) and choose your poison. At the moment, things look very quiet on the roads in the area. I don't expect that to be the case for long...

Ray

 

[Crewdog]

I was planning on arriving in Anacortes on Sunday afternoon 7/21 in time to launch boat, and I see the routes thru Mt. Vernon and Conway to connect to 20.

We've taken the ferry before from Whidbey to Mukilteo in a car and didn't have much of a wait, but I'll wait and see how timing is getting thru metro Seattle that day.

Appreciate all the route guidance!

Bill

 

[baz]

My my... hopefully no one was hurt badly. Wonder why the oversized truck wasn't check at the truck weighing/check stop just a few miles prior to Mt Vernon ?

That bridge just prior to the Exit ramp for Anacortes is kind of narrow any rate. It makes you think about all the bridges throughout USA that are in need of repairs. I always was apprehensive about crossing the 520 floating bridge from Bellevue to Seattle after some years back when the drawbridge accidentally came up and a women in a car slammed into it and was killed. Now of course it's a expensive toll bridge which I avoid like the plague, and its Toll rates will increase yet again in July.

Yes, there are at least two other routes; an early southerly one before Mt vernon that takes you over to La Conner and from there you can cut over to Hwy 20. The other is just before entering Mt Vernon proper at the Tulip Tower/Chimney which takes you through Mt Vernon, across another bridge and then through some farmland over to Hwy 20.

I do believe our highway infrastructure needs more attention as these event are happening with increased frequency.

 

[baz]

As R-Matey said, however, the roundabout at LaConnor is tight. You don't have to go into LaConnor unless you want to. Take the Conway exit (#221) and just follow the road through/past Conway. You will cross the Skagit river twice (on and off Fir Island). This road eventually becomes "Best Road". Stay on Best Road and it will take you directly to Hwy 20. Take a left at the light and head to Anacortes.
Randy & Ida

FYI...
T'is true about the round-about being a tight circle. However, the center is not raised and has tapered edges allowing long hauls to ride up onto the center thus allowing bigger rigs to negotiate the circle.

 

[Auklet]

UPDATE: Temporary I-5 bridge should be operational sometime next week. Speed limit will be 35 mph, but that will get the heavy traffic off the farm roads.

An average of 71,000 vehicles cross that bridge every day. All of which have been forced to alternate roads in the country side. The confusion has cost one life and many accidents.

The normal route is to stay on I-5 and turn west at SR20. Our personal preference is the route mentioned by others, Exit 221-Conway-Fir Island-Best Road-to SR20. Now that the trucks will be back on I-5 this will be a pleasant entrance to Anacortes. You may be caught behind a tractor, but just accept it. This will get you used to the casual pace we live here.

 

[Crewdog]

Thanks for the update!

I think i'll take the slow route as a way to transition from highway speed to a 6 or 8 kt cruise speed.

Bill

 

[baz]

I think the temp bridge is a Bailey bridge hauled up from Portland in pieces.

The old bridge had compression girders up top stabilized with some criss cross members. The truck took out one or more of the stabilizing cross members and the compression girder simply buckled sideways and the bridge subsequently collapsed. The truck barely had time to get off the bridge before it went down so I'm told.