Project Overview
The Meridian-Birchwood Transportation Improvement Project (ES564) is planned as a two-phase construction project that will increase safety, sight distance, access, and efficiency. It will also implement projects listed in the Pedestrian Master Plan, Bicycle Master Plan, ADA Transition Plan, and Parks PRO Plan, and will coordinate with existing WTA service routes and address two or three partial fish barriers.
This project’s focus is to provide transportation improvements to two intersections, Meridian St/Birchwood Ave and Meridian St/Squalicum Way. The existing intersections are closely spaced and currently experience major congestion which delays the movement of people and freight on this critical route. Improvements are required to accommodate the level of planned growth and development expected in the Bellingham Comprehensive Plan.
The goal of the project is to increase long-term intersection capacity for passenger and freight vehicles and to improve safety and comfort for all people using the multimodal transportation system.
Project Status – March 2025
Project data collection, including physical and environment surveys and geotechnical explorations, were completed in Fall 2024. Traffic analysis has been completed and supports a single circulation lane for the Phase 2 roundabout with a right-turn lane on southbound Meridian approach and a right-turn pocket on westbound Birchwood Avenue approach. The project design team is working to develop a 30% (preliminary) design set for Phase 1 and Phase 2.
Construction Impacts
Phase 1 will include impact and delays but major re-routes are not expected until Phase 2.
Phase 1 will include merging Squalicum Way freight truck route into Birchwood Ave before Meridian St and decommissioning the then unused section of Squalicum Way and traffic signal at Squalicum Way and Meridian St. Considerations for pedestrian, bicycles, and the future planned regional trail will be included.
For the project to be constructed, additional rights-of-way must be acquired. Right of way acquisition, design of both phases, and construction of phase 1 is currently funded.
Phase 2 will include reconstructing the Meridian-Birchwood intersection – which currently has a traffic signal – with a multimodal roundabout that will include a regional trail crossing on the south leg of the roundabout into Cornwall Memorial Park. This project will utilize 1% to the Arts funds for art in the center of the roundabout.
- December 2023: RFQ for Design of Phase 1 and 2
- August 2024: Design contract executed and data collection started
- Draft Schedule:
- Quarter 2 of 2025: 30% Design
- Quarter 3 of 2025: 60% Design and apply for permits
- Expected construction start date- Potentially 2027, depending on federal environmental permitting and right-of-way acquisition
The City has been exploring options to address these two intersections since the early 2000s. A feasibility study was completed in 2019 and the selected alternative is the basis of this project.
You can read the study on the Meridian Street Roundabouts Feasibility Study webpage (Meridian Street Roundabouts Feasibility Study – City of Bellingham (cob.org)).
Phase 1 (including design of Phase 2) is currently estimated to be 7 Million. As the design progresses this estimate may change. The project is currently funded by:
Local monies – Transportation and Street Funds, Parks Greenways, Port of Bellingham, a Whatcom County Economic Development Investment Program grant, and private development SEPA mitigation fees (St Joeseph PeaceHealth Institute Master Planning).
Federal Aid – Carbon Reduction Program and Surface Transportation Block Grant Program.
Phase 2 construction includes local and federal aid funding sources. We are also pursuing further funding opportunities for Phase 2.
Contact
Jessica Bennett, PE
Project Manager
Public Works Department
(360) 778-7923 or jjbennett@cob.org
Media inquiries: pwmedia@cob.org
