With New Year's Eve festivities and a ton of bowl games enticing people out, in addition to schools being out for winter break, there will be increased traffic. All this, along with pedestrians and cyclists who may be harder to see in the darkness and a number of street construction projects underway, means it is important to travel with care.
Stuart Road and Cordata Parkway – roundabout
Work is underway to construct a multimodal roundabout at the intersection of Stuart and Cordata. The roundabout will provide access to Whatcom Community College and the Cordata neighborhood and the new planned park. Stuart Road on the west side of Cordata Parkway will have restricted access (right in, right out only) and on the east side of Cordata, Stuart will also be right in and right out only. Due to the holidays, there will be no work on-site now until January 2; after that, then drivers can expect delays, with work lasting through Spring 2019. For more information, visit the City's project web page or contact Sam Shipp, P.E., project engineer, at sshipp@cob.org or (360) 778-7942.
Lakeway Drive and Lincoln Street
Crews have completed most of the hard surface improvements at Undine, Grant, Nevada and Lincoln streets, along with Samish Way. When complete, this project will provide a bike boulevard, new sidewalks, ramps, wayfinding and restoration, and will include four new pedestrian crossing signals (flashing HAWK crossings.) Over the next two months little work will be done (while electrical equipment is being readied); however, road users should expect work to begin again in February for a few weeks. For more information, visit the project web page or contact Freeman Anthony, P.E., project engineer, at fanthony@cob.org or (360) 778-7924.
Texas Street – Pacific Street to Valencia Street
This project to repave Texas Street between Pacific and Valencia included modifications to the existing traffic circles and added another to enhance safety. The project includes a lighted sidewalk on the south side of the corridor for pedestrian safety. Paving and restoration work (including topsoil, seeding, trees, plantings, adjusting valve and manhole covers) is done, with only minor traffic markings remaining. For more information, contact Craig Mueller, P.E., project engineer at camueller@cob.org or (360) 778-7922.
Mahogany Avenue – Northwest to Pacific Highway
Mahogany Avenue is open, including the intersection of Arctic Avenue with Mahogany. The new street will accommodate nearby new and proposed development. While the street is open to traffic, the contractor is still finishing up some work and will be on-site at times. Roadway improvements include two travel lanes, bike lanes, illumination, landscaping, curbing, gutter and sidewalks.
Donovan Avenue – 21st Street to east of 24th Street (Connolly Creek)
Work to replace the old, unreliable watermain on Donovan Avenue is done and paving is complete. Restoration work is mostly done, with only traffic markings left to complete, weather permitting. Donovan is now open to traffic. For more information, visit the project web page or contact Craig Mueller, P.E., project engineer, Fat camueller@cob.org or (360) 778-7922.
Cornwall Avenue at Laurel Street
Construction continues on this project to deliver new public and franchise utilities, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, parking, landscaping and street lighting, and street access to the waterfront. Drivers can also expect truck traffic, some lane closures and construction delays at Roeder and Chestnut and on Cornwall. Please note the new traffic flow on Roeder at Granary. For more information, visit the project web page or contact Freeman Anthony, P.E., project engineer, at fanthony@cob.org or (360) 778-7924.
Silver Beach Road and Arbor Court – water pretreatment
Work on the City's new water pretreatment plant at Whatcom Falls Park is essentially done. The trail is open and the new fence, created through the “1% for the Arts” program, is in place. Workers may be on-site occasionally, with some construction traffic. Parking at Arbor Court and adjacent access to the waterline trail is closed. For more, visit DAF Water Treatment Plant or contact Freeman Anthony, P.E., project engineer, at fanthony@cob.org or (360) 778-7924.
WSDOT and Whatcom County
The State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) may have projects that border Bellingham. For more information visit http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/. For updates on Whatcom County Public Works traffic projects near Bellingham, visit http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/308/Public-Works.
We provide this “road report” as a public service, based on currently available information. When traveling through a construction area – whether walking, cycling or driving – please be patient, travel with care and obey flaggers at all times. And in dark weather, please make sure you're visible to others. Planned road closures and restrictions are necessary to allow for a variety of work including resurfacing, sidewalk construction, water and sewer main work, and utility cuts. Dates, times and work locations may change, depending on inclement weather or last-minute changes in work schedules. Questions? Please contact AskPW@cob.org.
