Project Overview: ES-0440
The Orchard Drive Extension will provide a new multi-modal link for the City of Bellingham transportation system: an arterial linking the street grid east and west of Interstate 5 taking advantage of an existing grade separated crossing, with bike lanes and sidewalks. The project will link the King Mountain Neighborhood, directly under the existing highway to the Cornwall Neighborhood near the hospital. Currently planned developments in King Mountain include 1,500 residential housing units and 40,000 square feet of commercial space which will add significantly to the future traffic volumes on James Street Road. In addition to helping the future congestion on James Street Road, the project will also alleviate traffic congestion near the regional hospital on Ellis Street by routing a portion of the traffic to the new street.
The Squalicum Creek Re-route Phases 3 and 4 habitat enhancement project was built in the same vicinity as this project in 2020.
Status – December 2021
Accomplishments: Construction is nearly complete on the new street. All utilities, pavement, sidewalk and striping is in. The only remaining items is guardrail, streetlights and the stoplight for James/Orchard intersection which are experiencing delays with procurement. The Squalicum Creek Trail was also reopened for use in October.
Next Milestones: The project is considerably ahead of schedule. The new street can be opened to traffic as soon as it is safe to do so with the lighting and stoplight for the James/Orchard intersection installed. The lights will likely be installed in January 2022.
Supporting Documents
- November 12, 2019 – Presentation slides from Cornwall Park Neighborhood Association meeting (includes Squalicum Creek Re-route and Orchard Drive Extension projects)
- Squalicum Creek Corridor projects graphic (includes Squalicum Re-route and Orchard Drive Extension projects)
Project Details
- Status – Construction
- Contract Awarded – January 2021
- Contract Amount – $6,592,435.18
- Contractor – Strider Construction
- Vicinity Map
More Information
Contact
Craig Mueller, P.E.
Project Engineer
Phone: (360) 778-7922
Public Works Contacts
Current Project Updates
Projects that are currently under construction are featured in our weekly project news releases. Please check the news releases below for the most recent project updates and sign up to receive City news updates directly to your email inbox.
