What a roundabout at one of Bellingham’s busiest intersections might look like
A roundabout planned for one of the busiest intersections in Bellingham could require extensive detours over a year-long construction period, according to an early timeline and designs from the city of Bellingham.
Residents got their first look at the proposed roundabout connecting Meridian Street, Birchwood Avenue and Squalicum Parkway during a March open house at Parkview Elementary School.
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Designs, timelines and detour routes displayed at the open house are preliminary and subject to change, Public Works Department spokesman Connor Harron told The Bellingham Herald.
At the open house, project engineer Jessica Bennett said the city has wanted “for a long time” to improve traffic flow at the congested intersection, where drivers often wait through two or three traffic-light cycles during rush hour.
“As many of you have probably experienced, there’s long queue delays,” Bennett said. “It’s also a critical truck route from Squalicum Parkway up to Meridian, taking traffic away from the waterfront and port area, connecting to the interstate and up north. Right now, there’s also very limited pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. As you all know, as the city continues to grow, we’re going to see more and more traffic and all the existing problems are going to get worse.”
Meridian Street carries 24,400 cars and trucks daily north of the Birchwood-Squalicum intersection, and 11,800 vehicles south, according to a 2023 city traffic survey. Birchwood Avenue has a daily traffic volume of 6,800 vehicles west of Meridian and 8,200 east of the intersection. Squalicum Parkway, which is a truck route to the waterfront, has a daily traffic volume of 5,550.
Construction is planned in four phases over about 13 months starting in late 2027, according to charts show at the open house. Squalicum Parkway will be realigned at its east end into Birchwood Avenue and the direct Squalicum Parkway connection to Meridian will be eliminated. Birchwood Avenue will connect with the Meridian Street roundabout, making it a four-way traffic circle.
Long construction detours are likely, and proposed routes would generally use Northwest Drive, Bakerview Road and West Illinois Street, according to preliminary drawings. Detours will change as construction moves in phases like the hand of a clock around the Merdian-Birchwood intersection.
About 100 people attended the event in March, including Jim Fonte of Walk and Roll Bellingham, who praised the design of crossings for people on foot or bike.
“One of the key features on the traffic circles is that they’re going to elevate the crossings for pedestrians and bikes,” Fontes told The Bellingham Herald in an interview. “This helps make car slow down, it’s like a calming effect, like a built-in speed bump. It also elevates the pedestrians and bikes so they’re more visible to vehicles — especially the new large pickup trucks they have, with the super-high front ends.”
Bike and pedestrian crossings will have flashing yellow lights, Bennett said.
