BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – After a multi-week closure, both lanes on I-5 northbound south of Bellingham are getting ready to reopen.
WSDOT says that all lanes of I-5 northbound between North Lake Samish and Old Fairhaven Parkway are scheduled to reopen at 5 a.m. on Thursday, April 16.
The four-mile stretch of I-5 NB has been closed since March 19 after two landslides were triggered by heavy rain.
Crews removed over 1,000 tons of rocks, dirt, branches and other debris Wednesday night and are continuing to install dowels into the remaining rock face.
“This has been complex, high-risk work that required a methodical top-down approach,” said Secretary of Transportation Julie Meredith. “Our focus from day one has been to reopen the highway as quickly as possible, but only when we can do so safely.”
At least one more large, unstable rock still needs to be removed, which will lead to some delays in the southbound lanes this weekend.
Drivers may see rolling slowdowns starting at 8 a.m. on Sunday, April 12, while crews get the rock out.
Anyone heading northbound must still use Samish Way, Chuckanut Drive, or Highway 9 as alternate routes.
