The legislature has come to a tentative agreement on its 2009-2011 budget which includes $1.5 million for a new four-lane bridge project on SR-9 over the Snohomish River.

The money would be used for designing the project and environmental planning.

“This is my top transportation priority,” said Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens. “This is an important investment that will create or retain jobs and improve public safety.”

The existing bridge is the same size it was in the 1950s and no longer meets the needs of the area. It has become a chokepoint for North-South traffic along the SR-9 corridor. Replacing the bridge is essential to widening and improving all of SR-9.

Hobbs fought hard for the money after a series of community meetings revealed that replacing the bridge was one of the top transportation priorities of local leaders.

“I fought hard to carry out the wishes of my district,” Hobbs said. “When we come to a consensus as a community, I am able to carry our message to Olympia and work for the necessary results.”