Busy Bellingham bridge in need of additional repairs will close for 12 days in September
Another full closure is set for the Electric Avenue bridge over the west end of Lake Whatcom, where weight limits are in place because its supports have weakened.
Closing dates are Sept. 9-20, the city said in a statement at its website.
Woburn Street will be the north-south detour route during the closure. Signs will be in place, the city said.
Bicycle and pedestrian access will be limited during construction hours. The sidewalk will stay open for pedestrians outside of construction hours on evenings and weekends, the city said.
“While we are committed to providing temporary repairs to the Electric Avenue bridge, we recognize the need for a long-term solution. The permanent replacement of this critical infrastructure will require significant planning, resources, and time,” the city said.
“Once funding is secured, we anticipate a multi-year process to design and construct a new bridge. This will involve extensive engineering studies, public input, and coordination with various stakeholders,” the city said.
What city officials said were “critical structural failures” found in an inspection closed the bridge for several days starting June 3, according to previous Bellingham Herald reporting.
It reopened with temporary signals to allow alternating lanes of traffic to cross the 65-year-old bridge, with a weight restriction of 24 tons.
Plans for reconstruction of the bridge, which was built in 1959, are included in the city’s five-year transportation plan for 2024-2029.
About 10,500 cars and trucks cross the bridge daily, according to a city of Bellingham traffic count in 2023.
