News - Local News

POSTED: Sunday, May. 24, 2009

Road closures and other reminders for Ski to Sea race day

Ski to Sea, the largest race in Whatcom County, is Sunday, May 24.

Here are a few odds and ends about the seven-leg relay, which stretches 90 miles from the Mt. Baker Ski Area to Marine Park in Fairhaven.

Number of racers: 3,328 on 416 teams.

Weather: Sunny, light breeze, high near 65 in Bellingham. At Mt. Baker Ski Area, expect temperatures in the 40s for the first legs of the race.

Road conditions: With thousands of people expected to be milling around at Zuanich Point Park and the It All Ends in Fairhaven festival, motorists should be alert when driving along Roeder Avenue at the waterfront and Harris Avenue in Fairhaven. Also keep an eye out for racers

Road closures: Parts of Mount Baker Highway and Kendall Road will be closed from 7:30 a.m. to noon. The highway will be closed from the ski area at milepost 54 to the Kendall Road intersection at milepost 22.9.

Kendall Road will be closed from its intersection with the highway to South Pass Road at milepost 3.9.

Drivers should look out for racers even after the roads open and should expect heavy congestion along Mount Baker Highway during and after the race.

Best place to watch the canoe leg: Any of the bridges over the Nooksack River between Everson and Ferndale; some beaches near the Guide Meridian and Hannegan bridges.

Best place to watch mountain biking leg: Marine Drive trail system near the end of the leg.

Best place to watch kayak leg: The finish line at Marine Park in Fairhaven. But there's also plenty of viewing possibilities at the start at Zuanich Point Park, the Bellwether, Boulevard Park and the trails and street above Boulevard Park.

It All Ends in Fairhaven festival, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Fairhaven Village Green, 10th Street at Mill Avenue, with entertainment, food booths, craft vendors and kids' activities. Beer garden at 11th Street and McKenzie Avenue from 11 to 7:45 p.m. with music by Tom Sandborn at 11 a.m., The Pop Offs at noon, Death By Radio at 2 p.m., SpaceBand at 4 p.m., The Walrus at 6 p.m. Details: fairhaven.com., 961-6749.

Shuttle to Fairhaven: Parking is scare in Fairhaven for the festival and traffic is heavy. Save time by taking the shuttle from Western Washington University parking Lot C, at Bill McDonald Parkway and West College Way. It runs every 15 minutes starting at 11:30 a.m.; the last shuttle leaves Fairhaven at 8:30 p.m. Fairhaven arrival/pickups at 12th Street near Harris Avenue. Cost is 75 cents each way or a valid WTA bus pass.

FOLLOW THE RACE

Check TheBellinghamHerald.com on Sunday for race updates, photos from the legs and video.