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- Spring 2024
We are currently in scoping and contract negotiations with a selected design team.
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. Funding comes from a Whatcom County Economic Development Investment Program Grant, Port of Bellingham MOU, Federal Aid dollars through the Carbon Reduction Program and Surface Transportation Block Grant Program, and local funds from private development SEPA mitigation fees (St Joseph Peacehealth Institute Master Planning), Street Fund, Transportation Resurface Fund, and Parks Greenways.
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. Funding comes from a Whatcom County Economic Development Investment Program Grant, Port of Bellingham MOU, Federal Aid dollars through the Carbon Reduction Program and Surface Transportation Block Grant Program, and local funds from private development SEPA mitigation fees (St Joseph Peacehealth Institute Master Planning), Street Fund, Transportation Resurface Fund, and Parks Greenways.
- Project design start date: RFQ for Design of Phase 1 and 2 Dec 2023. Contract still being developed.
- Expected construction start date: Summer 2026 for Phase 1 pending federal environmental permitting
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) total project cost is estimated to be 7 Million. Funded through local monies (Transportation (500K) and Street (100K) Funds, Parks Greenways (275K), Port of Bellingham (75K), a County Economic Development Investment grant (2.6 Million), and Federal Aid (2.5 Million).
Phase 2 construction is estimated to cost 7 Million.
Contact
Jessica Bennett, PE
Project Manager
Public Works Department
(360) 778-7923 or jjbennett@cob.org
Media inquiries: pwmedia@cob.org
