Intersection of 12th Street, Mill Avenue, and Finnegan Way, where a new traffic signal will be added.

12th and Finnegan Multimodal Projects

Project Overview

This project is designed to improve transportation safety at key intersections along the 12th Street and Finnegan Way corridor, which is the gateway to the Fairhaven Urban Village. Pedestrian, bicycle, transit rider and vehicle crossing demand is increasing in this area, making this project a priority for improving access and safety for Fairhaven residents, businesses, and visitors. This project adds:

  • A new traffic signal at the busy intersection of 12th Street, Mill Avenue, and Finnegan Way (this traffic signal will be linked with the Harris Avenue signal for smoother traffic flow)
  • New flashing crosswalks (Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons):
    • At the intersection of 12th Street and McKenzie Avenue
    • At the intersection of 11th Street and Finnegan Way
  • New on-street parallel parking, ADA-accessible sidewalk, bike lane improvements, and street trees along a section of Finnegan Way between Mill Avenue and 11th Street

Project Status – Fall 2025

The traffic signal at the intersection of 12th Street, Mill Avenue, and Finnegan Way is installed and operational and lane markings have been added. There are some small finishing touches remaining that may cause intermittent traffic disruption during work hours. Flaggers will direct traffic. The traffic signal will be linked with the existing signal at 12th Street and Harris Avenue for smoother traffic flow. Work is expected to wrap up by early November.

4-way traffic signal with vehicles driving through it on sunny day
October 2025 – New traffic signal at intersection of 12th Street, Mill Avenue, and Finnegan Way

This busy intersection sees more than 10,000 vehicles per day and this number continues to grow with increasing development in Fairhaven, making a full traffic signal necessary to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and drivers. The new signal will also improve visibility for drivers, particularly for those traveling east from the steep slope of Mill Avenue where sightlines are currently limited.

Construction on this project began in April 2025 with the installation of flashing crosswalks, new sidewalk, on-street parallel parking, and bike lane upgrades, as well as prep work for the new traffic signal (electrical work, ramp installation, and re-paving). Construction was paused in June while waiting for delivery of the traffic signal equipment. Installing the signal is the final step of this transportation safety project.

Construction impacts

During signal installation, there will be flaggers directing the flow of traffic as needed. All travel lanes will be reopened by the end of each workday. Please travel cautiously and follow flaggers and signs for your safety. No detours are planned.

Access to all Fairhaven businesses will remain open throughout the project. Please note that private development projects, including the Fairhaven Center Development, are also happening nearby that may cause additional construction impacts in the area.

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Project Information

This transportation improvement project has been identified as a priority in the 2022 Bellingham Local Road Safety Plan, Bellingham’s Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program, Bellingham’s 2012 Pedestrian Master Plan, and the Fairhaven Urban Village Plan.

The 12th Street and Finnegan Way corridor is the gateway to the Fairhaven Urban Village, from downtown Bellingham to the north and from I-5 via State Route 11 (Old Fairhaven Parkway) to the east. This corridor is the primary north-south route for all travelers through the core of the Fairhaven Urban Village. It also has WTA high-frequency transit service to downtown Bellingham and a WTA bus pull-out and bus shelter is located on the northeast corner of 12th/Mill/Finnegan.

Between 2016-2020, the 12th Street and Finnegan Way corridor experienced 37 total collisions. This project seeks to improve transportation safety for all users of the corridor through the following improvements.

12th/Mill/Finnegan Intersection Traffic Signal

The existing 12th/Mill/Finnegan intersection uses stop signs on Mill Avenue to control traffic traveling east-west. More than 10,000 vehicles travel north-south through this intersection per day. Significant development has occurred in the Fairhaven Urban Village in recent years and additional development is expected, increasing pedestrian, bicycle, transit rider, and vehicle crossing demand through 12th/Finnegan/Mill. The increase in the use of this intersection now warrants a full traffic signal.

The traffic signal will also help address an existing sight-distance issue for vehicles traveling east at this intersection. It is challenging to see oncoming traffic when waiting on the steep slope of Mill Avenue. A traffic signal will cause north-south traffic to stop periodically, allowing traffic traveling east-west to safely move. Stopping traffic at this signal will also improve safety for pedestrians crossing at this busy intersection.

Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs)

A user-activated Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) crosswalk will be added at 11th Street and Finnegan Way to improve safety for people walking, bike, and crossing to transit bus stops between the Fairhaven Village on the west side of Finnegan Way and the Fairhaven Library and South Hill Neighborhood on the east side.

A user-activated RRFB at 12th Street and McKenzie will be added between affordable senior apartments and the local Haggen grocery store. This improved crossing will provide safer access between the Fairhaven Village and a WTA transit stop, grocery store, and Happy Valley neighborhood. There have been pedestrian injury collisions here and as growth continues, so does the pedestrian crossing demand.

Added Sidewalk

Sidewalk currently exists on both sides of the street all along the 12th Street – Finnegan Way corridor except for one section that is approximately 400 linear feet near the Finnegan Way and 11th Street intersection. This section of sidewalk will be added as part of this project to provide an important connection.

The funding for this project comes from the City of Bellingham Street Fund, Transportation Fund, and a Washington State Transportation Improvement Board Grant.

The project construction contract was awarded to Strider Construction for $1,306,658 at the Bellingham City Council meeting on December 16, 2024.

Contact

General project questions: AskPW@cob.org
Media inquiries: pwmedia@cob.org

Project Engineer
Kyle Carlson, PE
Phone: (360) 778-7946
Email: kmcarlson@cob.org

Participating Departments

Affected Neighborhoods

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