Here’s how the end of summer will impact your drive this week
Schools across Whatcom County start classes this week, so expect more traffic during your morning and evening commutes.
In addition, several construction projects planned next week could delay that morning trip to school and work.
There’s no major construction set in Whatcom County until Sunday night, Aug. 28, but you’ll likely sit in traffic if you’re headed to Seattle and beyond on Interstate 5:
▪ Highway 520 will be closed across Lake Washington from 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, until early Monday morning, Aug. 29.
▪ In addition, southbound I-5 will be reduced to one lane south of the Seattle stadiums from 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, until 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 29, as part of continuing Revive I-5 efforts.
“Travelers should think twice about their weekend plans,” the Washington State Department of Transportation said in its weekly email about road projects.
Most state highway construction work will pause through the Labor Day holiday weekend — including Monday, Sept. 5 — to ease congestion. But drivers should be alert for new lane shifts or work zone staging areas that may remain in place, WSDOT said.
Elsewhere in Whatcom County
▪ The left lane of southbound I-5 will be closed from south of the North Lake Samish to near the Highway 20/Anacortes exits will be closed for surveying from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily Monday, Aug. 29, through Wednesday, Aug. 31.
▪ Paving work previously scheduled from Aug. 24-26 along Lake Louise Road was postponed because of mechanical issues. Grinding and paving is now expected from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 29. Traffic control and signage will be in place. Drivers should expect long delays and use alternate routes.
▪ Pavement striping operations are scheduled from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31, on Everson Goshen Road. Lengthy delays can be expected.
▪ Shoulder repair work and maintenance is scheduled from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 29, and Tuesday, Aug. 30, on Hannegan Road at East Laurel Road. Lengthy delays can be expected.
▪ Northbound and southbound traffic on Highway 9 from the roundabout at Highway 542 to just south of Van Zandt will alternate through a single lane for pavement repair from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 28.
▪ The off-ramp from southbound I-5 at Sunset Drive will be closed for overhead sign replacement from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 28.
▪ Northbound and southbound Highway 11 will alternate through a single lane at Highline Drive for utility work from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 29.
▪ Northbound and southbound traffic on Highway 9 from just south of Van Zandt to Homesteader Road will alternate through a single lane for pavement repair from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 29.
▪ Traffic at the intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 9 in Sedro-Woolley will be controlled by a flagger for signal installation from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Monday, Aug. 29.
▪ Northbound and southbound traffic on Highway 9 from Homesteader Road to Galbraith Road will alternate through a single lane for pavement repair from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30.
▪ Northbound and southbound traffic on Highway 9 from Galbraith Road to Saxon Road will alternate through a single lane for pavement repair from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31.
▪ Northbound and southbound traffic on Highway 9 from Saxon Road to N.P. Road will alternate through a single lane for pavement repair from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 1.
▪ Westbound traffic on Badger Road just east of Northwood Road in Lynden will alternate through a single lane for work on Kamm Ditch fish passage project from 9 p.m. to midnight Monday, Aug. 29, through Thursday, Sept. 1.
▪ Eastbound traffic on Badger Road just east of Northwood Road in Lynden will alternate through a single lane for work on Kamm Ditch fish passage project from midnight to 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 29, through Thursday, Sept. 1.
Continuing projects
▪ Mosquito Lake Road will be closed 2.4 miles east of Valley Highway at Acme through early September to replace a culvert to allow easier fish passage. A signed detour will use the Mount Baker Highway and the Valley Highway.
▪ Expect delays through summer on the North Cascades Highway (Highway 20) between Sedro-Woolley and Newhalem as flood-damage repairs continue.
▪ Eastbound and westbound traffic on Highway 20 between Rocky Creek Road in Rockport and Cherry Blossom Lane in Marblemount. will alternate through a single lane for pavement repair from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27.
▪ Eastbound and westbound traffic on Highway 20 between Rocky Creek Road in Rockport and Cherry Blossom Lane in Marblemount. will alternate through a single lane for pavement repair from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from Monday, Aug. 29, through Thursday, Sept. 1.
▪ Eastbound and westbound traffic on Highway 20 will alternate through a single lane for one mile west of Rocky Creek Road in Concrete for PSE work from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from Monday, Aug. 29, through Thursday, Sept. 1.
▪ Eastbound and westbound traffic on Highway 20 will alternate through a single east of NE Cape Horn Road in Concrete for approximately three-quarters of a mile for utility work from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly from Monday, Aug. 29, through Thursday, Sept. 1.
▪ Utility crews will be working on the westbound shoulder on Highway 20 from east of NE Cape Horn Road to just east of Dalles Road in Concrete from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from Monday, Aug. 29, through Thursday, Sept. 1.
▪ Traffic at the intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 9 in Sedro-Woolley will be controlled by a flagger for paving associated with signal installation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30, through Thursday, Sept. 1.
▪ Work to replace bumpy expansion joints on southbound I-5 will continue through the end of September.
▪ Travelers heading to Canada are urged to check border wait times. Early morning hours have less congestion. Travelers should have their ArriveCAN receipt; passport or travel documents, proof of vaccination; and identification for everyone in the vehicle.
