Road Report for July 15-19

Races, Pride Parade, State work, City street construction impact traffic

July 12, 2019 - by Amy Cloud, Communications and Outreach

Busy times in Bellingham:  the Ragnar Relay and Lake Whatcom Triathlon are this weekend, as is the Pride Parade. In addition, the State Department of Transportation is working on some ramps plus repaving toward Mount Baker Highway.  All of that will impact traffic, as will several ongoing City street construction projects. As always, please travel with care.

Lake Whatcom – Silver Beach Ave/Huntington, Northshore at Maynard, Flynn/Prospect  
A series of Lake Whatcom water quality projects is underway to modify existing drainage infrastructure in order to improve water quality protections from pollution, stormwater runoff and phosphorous. On Northshore and Prospect streets drivers may encounter crews doing patch work. At all three project sites, drivers can expect some delays and lane closures. For more information, visit the project web page or contact Freeman Anthony, P.E., project engineer, at fanthony@cob.org or (360) 778-7924.

Boulevard Park 
Construction activities continue at Boulevard Park at Bayview Drive. The entrance to  Boulevard Park is open until further notice.  Other traffic control, partial road closures and intermittent trail closures will continue into September. This work will mean access to the Park could be restricted on an intermittent basis. For more information, check here or contact the project engineer Gina Austin, P.E., at gaustin@cob.org or (360) 778-7000.

Cordata sidewalks – Aldrich Road
Construction activity on this project to install a bike lane and sidewalk along Aldrich Road from Mahogany Avenue to the existing bike lane and sidewalk just north of Larrabee Road is temporarily on hiatus, as crews await the arrival of light poles.  The new bike lane and sidewalk will complete the sidewalk links along Aldrich Road to Cordata Elementary School.  For more information, visit the project web page or contact Sam Shipp, P.E., project engineer, at sshipp@cob.org or (360) 778-7942.

Lake Padden Park – sewer project
Restrooms are open during work to replace sewer facilities in and around them on the east side of Lake Padden Park near the dog park and playground. Work is currently suspended but should resume shortly with the installation of electrical and component systems, and the final system switch-over and decommissioning of the old system. For more information, visit the project web page or contact Larry Scholten, P.E., project engineer, at LJScholten@cob.org or (360) 778-7923.

Granary Avenue and Laurel Street   (pictured above)
Construction is largely complete on this project: the roadway opens to the public this Monday, July 8.  Minor site work may be encountered over the next few months as final items are addressed. For more information, visit the project web page or contact Freeman Anthony, P.E., project engineer, at  fanthony@cob.org or (360) 778-7924.

E. Maplewood Ave, W. Illinois Street, Lorraine Ellis Court – watermain replacements  
Construction continues on Lorraine Ellis Court, on W. Illinois between Lynn Street and Northwest Avenue, and on E. Maplewood Avenue. The new watermains have been installed and the project is nearly complete, with some minor landscaping and roadway restoration remaining.  Traffic control may be in place and some short detours could still be necessary. For more, visit the project web page or contact Larry Scholten, P.E., project engineer, at LJScholten@cob.org or (360) 778-7923.

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)
The State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) crews replacing some utility poles along I-5, which will slow traffic overnight on Tuesday, July 16 (and Monday, July 22.) And over the weekend WSDOT is closing on-and off-ramps at Sunset Drive overnight for some work.  As well, their crews are repaving Sunset Drive east from I-5, which  could cause delays of “up to 20 minutes.”  As part of the project, WSDOT contractors have been granted a variance for several nights of “after hours” work this summer.  For more information visit http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/

Whatcom County
For updates on Whatcom County Public Works roadway 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. 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 vary, depending on inclement weather or last-minute changes in work schedules. Questions? Contact AskPW@cob.org.


Media Contact

Paul Reed, Construction Manager
City of Bellingham – Public Works
(360) 778-7929
preed@cob.org


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