Part of popular Bellingham waterfront trail to close during planned development
Part of the popular South Bay Trail connecting downtown Bellingham and the Fairhaven shopping district will close for about 18 months during construction of two long-planned projects.
Closure is slated for late this month, the city said in its weekly online newsletter. An exact date was not announced.
A detour will use Douglas Avenue, 11th Street and Mill Avenue, according to a City of Bellingham map.
“The closure is due to several projects in the area, including redevelopment of the Reid Boiler Works site and development of Fairhaven Center, which includes a permanent reroute of South Bay Trail. The trail runs through the developer’s property, and when complete, will reopen near its original location,” the city said in a statement.
Reid Boiler supplied the heating systems for many Bellingham buildings, including the landmark Herald Building. It was destroyed in a 2014 fire that was caused by fireworks, according to Bellingham Herald reporting.
The Fairhaven Center will be built on the site of “the pit,” a dirt parking lot where Fairhaven shoppers have enjoyed free parking for more than two decades. The new building will have parking for tenants and 80 spots for the public.
This story was originally published July 20, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
