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 new bridges crossing over Whatcom Creek replaced deteriorated structures originally built in 1936. This project removed and replaced the two bridges with single-span bridges of varying cross sections, replaced the existing water main on the bridges, relocated existing sanitary sewer infrastructure and franchise utilities, mitigated stormwater, and performed other work.

Map of Meador Avenue and James Street bridge closure areas
Project vicinity map. Click on map image to open larger PDF version.

“Before” Photos

Bridge over Whatcom Creek
Meador Avenue Bridge
Bridge over Whatcom Creek
James Street Bridge

Completed Project Photos

Meador Avenue bridge
Completed Meador Avenue Bridge
James Street Bridge
Completed James Street Bridge

Project Status – Fall 2025

Both bridges are now open. Handrails were installed in September 2025, and the project is substantially complete.

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

General inquiries: askpw@cob.org

Media inquiries: pwmedia@cob.org

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

Participating Departments

Affected Neighborhoods

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