Washington State Route 529

On Saturday, May 23, 2020, we drove Washington State Route 529, zig-zagging through Everett and across the delta.

RCW 47.17.752
State route No. 529:

A state highway to be known as state route number 529 is established as follows:

Beginning at a junction with state route number 5 in Everett, thence westerly and northerly through Everett to a junction with state route number 528 in Marysville.

Once upon a time, Highway 529 was a fairly straight road, taking Broadway through Everett directly to the Snohomish River bridges and Marysville. It was part of the Pacific Highway, paved over a hundred years ago. The highway's purpose has changed since I-5 was built, it seems. It almost entirely avoids Broadway, being rerouted in 1991 over to Marine View Drive and starting here at this nondescript interchange with I-5 at Pacific Ave.


The first couple turns of Highway 529 are hard to follow if you don't know where the route goes, including the first turn north on Maple St. After a couple blocks, we reach California St, which is an off-ramp of US 2. Hewitt Ave has on-ramps for US 2, but the two highways don't technically intersect there.


Hewitt Ave is one of the main east-west streets through downtown Everett. Highway 529 avoids the city as much as possible, however, so we turn left two blocks farther north, on Everett Ave. (A right turn is a spur of Highway 529 to another interchange with I-5, but since the spur isn't part of the code description, we didn't drive it.) A few blocks west, say "hi!" to Broadway as we pass the old highway at a right angle. Down to the waterfront, we turn north and zoom by the Naval Station and marinas. A massive pedestrian overpass is under construction. As we near the mouth of the Snohomish River, the highway curves east then southeast to reach a junction with itself. Exit for 529 north! Half a cloverleaf and we're back on Broadway and then the old bridge over the river, a long green cage. Island, slough, island, slough, island. Highway 529 is a mostly access-restricted freeway here. And then we reach another junction with I-5, northbound only.


After one more bridge over another slough, we roll into Marysville on State Ave. The old highway keeps going straight, but Highway 529 ends here at this junction with SR 528.

If you like old highway bridges, farmland, marinas, and a glimpse of a city, all in a quick drive, Highway 529 is the road for you!