Youth camps are well underway, as are summertime festivals, concerts and events attracting visitors to venues all over town, from the waterfront to city parks. The extra activities could impact traffic, as could these city street construction projects. Please travel with care and patience.
NEW: Padden Creek improvements – 24th to 30th streets
Construction will begin July 25 on a habitat improvement project along Padden Creek between the confluence of Connelly Creek and the upstream footbridge. Crews and equipment will access the site from Old Fairhaven Parkway. The Connelly Creek trail will remain open. The project will create and enhance existing wetlands, add complexity to the stream habitat and will remove invasive plant species. For more information, visit the Padden Creek Improvements Webpage or contact Craig Mueller, P.E., via camueller@cob.org or (360) 778-7922.
Little Squalicum Estuary
Construction crews are beginning geotechnical work for this habitat project at Little Squalicum Park. Crews and equipment will access the site from Lindbergh Drive. The east trail will be fully closed on the water side of Marine Drive, while limited beach access will be available via the west trail. The Park will remain open on the land side of Marine Drive, with access from Bellingham Technical College and West Illinois Street. For more information, visit the Little Squalicum Estuary project webpage or contact Freeman Anthony, P.E., via fanthony@cob.org or (360) 778-7924.
City Operations Center – Pacific and Carolina streets
Work at the City’s new administrative services site is progressing quickly; both the Operations Center and new vehicle barn should be complete by the end of the year. For more information, visit the City Operations buildings project webpage.
West Cemetery Creek water quality improvements
On Monday, July 18, mobilization and access work will occur on the West Cemetery Creek Water Quality Improvement project, which includes installation of sediment control-and-capture structures along with stormwater outfall repairs to reduce sediment in the creek and improve its stability. For more news, visit the West Cemetery Creek Water Quality Improvements or West Cemetery project webpages.
Mill Avenue overlay
Restoration is underway on the Mill Avenue overlay project and the pedestrian access ramp will be completed over the next few weeks, along with final roadway preparation and paving at Samish Way. Traffic impacts and access limitations continue, with road closures and one-way access – including along Samish Way – detours will be posted. To learn more, visit the Mill Avenue overlay project website.
State and Ellis – bridge replacement
The 80-year-old wood-supported bridge over Whatcom Creek has been replaced with a new single-span concrete structure. The wooden piles within the creek have been removed and the in-stream habitat below the bridge restored. For more information, including project updates, visit the State and Ellis bridge replacement project webpage.
Stormwater facility rebuild – Park Place
The stormwater facility at 123 Park Place was rebuilt to remove phosphorus from stormwater heading into Lake Whatcom. Stormwater will be treated with Phosphorus Optimized Stormwater Treatment (POST) material, or media, which is a soil mixed with other components to facilitate the removal of the phosphorus from the stormwater before it is released into the lake. For more information on this process and the project, visit the Park Place Water Quality Facility Reconstruction project webpage.
Sanitary sewer rehab – Whatcom Creek
At times over the next few months bypass and sewer rehabilitation work will require closure and detouring of a portion of the Whatcom Creek trail and may include short-term impacts to traffic on James Street or Meador Avenue south of the creek. A map of the trail closure – and more project information – is available on the Whatcom Creek Trunk Main website.
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)
WSDOT recommends planning ahead for summer travel, as there continues to be weekend work on I-5. Drivers can get real-time traffic information on their phone with the WSDOT traffic app or via the WSDOT north Twitter feed.
Whatcom County
County crews are doing chip seal work, which could substantially delay traffic on those roads. For locations, and other updates on County projects near Bellingham, visit the Whatcom County Public Works website. There is an option to subscribe for regular updates.
This report is provided as a public service based on currently available information. When traveling through a construction area – whether walking, cycling or driving – be patient and obey flaggers. Road closures and restrictions are necessary to allow for work such as resurfacing, sidewalk construction, water and sewer main work or utility cuts. Dates, times and work locations may vary, depending on weather or work schedule changes. For more information, email AskPW@cob.org.
