Project Overview- ES564
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 – Fall 2024
Project data collection, including physical and environment surveys and geotechnical explorations, will be completed throughout the fall. We have completed traffic analysis to determine the right size of the planned roundabout in Phase 2. The traffic analysis supports a single-lane roundabout with a right turn lane on southbound Meridian approach and a right turn pocket on westbound Birchwood Ave approach.
The project design team has started the initial design in earnest now that the physical survey is complete and traffic analysis completed. The project has also received an additional $1.9 million in federal re-distributed funds to support the design of Phase 1 and Phase 2.
Construction Impacts
Phase 1 will include impact and delays but major re-routes are not expected until Phase 2.
Contact
Jessica Bennett, PE
Project Manager
Public Works Department
(360) 778-7923 or jjbennett@cob.org
Media inquiries: pwmedia@cob.org