Overnight landslide forces closure of Chuckanut Drive south of Bellingham; traffic has resumed

An overnight landslide that closed both directions of Chuckanut Drive south of Bellingham is now open, Washington State Department of Transportation officials said.

Dirt, debris and boulders as large as a car were blocking both lanes of traffic, WSDOT tweeted early Saturday.

Also called State Route 11, the road was closed about milepost 13, near Oyster Creek and south of Larrabee State Park.

WSDOT said workers were using heavy equipment but that there was no estimated time of opening.

Chuckanut Drive is a scenic route along the waterfront linking Whatcom and Skagit counties. Such landslides are common, especially during the rainy season.

This story was originally published November 2, 2024 at 2:11 PM.

Robert Mittendorf

The Bellingham Herald

360-756-2805

Robert Mittendorf covers civic issues, weather, traffic and how people are coping with the high cost of housing for The Bellingham Herald. A journalist since 1984, he also served 22 years as a volunteer firefighter for South Whatcom Fire Authority before retiring in 2025.