Meador Avenue and James Street Whatcom Creek Bridge Replacement Projects

Project Overview: ER015 & ER016

James Street and Meador Avenue are federally classified major collectors serving the surrounding neighborhoods in the middle of Bellingham. The two bridges to be replaced cross over Whatcom Creek and are nearly identical. They were originally built in 1936 and rebuilt in 1962. Both are built on timber piers which have been deteriorating. This project will remove and replace the two bridges with single span bridges with varying cross sections, as well as replace existing water main on the bridges, relocate existing sanitary sewer infrastructure and franchise utility, mitigate stormwater, and other work.

Map showing location of two bridges to be replaced on Meador Avenue and James Street.
Project vicinity map. Click on map image to open larger PDF version.

Construction is expected for spring/summer 2024 and every effort will be made to minimize disruption to local businesses and school buses from the Bellingham Public School Bus Yard within the project limits. Stormwater management, meeting redevelopment standards for water quality, and flow attenuation will be required in accordance with current City of Bellingham and Department of Ecology Standards.

Project Status – September 2023

Cascade Natural Gas Project on Meador Ave – September/October 2023
There is currently construction work on Meador Avenue as part of a Cascade Natural Gas project. A portion of their project involves moving their natural gas main in preparation for the City’s bridge replacement projects in 2024. Please call (360) 676-6272 for more information about the current Cascade Natural Gas project on Meador Avenue.

Meador Avenue and James Street Bridge Replacement Projects
100% Design is complete. Bid advertisement is planned for Fall 2023. Construction is expected to begin in early 2024. During construction, there will be at least one bridge open at any given time to minimize traffic disruptions.

Funding

Both projects are federally funded through the WSDOT STP(BR) bridge replacement program. While the bridges are being designed and constructed as one project, each bridge is funded separately by Federal Local Bridge Program Funds as well as local Street Funds and costs will be tracked and reported separately.

Contact

​Aric Smathers, PE
Phone: (360) 778-7942
Email: arsmathers@cob.org​

Participating Departments

Affected Neighborhoods

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