Whatcom County I-5 paving project to include closures, delays into fall
Drivers can expect several months of delays starting next week as a nearly $11 million project kicks off on southbound Interstate 5 between Blaine and the Nooksack River bridge in Ferndale.
Work along the 10-mile stretch of I-5 will include filling ruts, cracks and potholes, new paving and repairs to the guardrail and cable barrier.
Construction starts at 8 p.m. Wednesday and continues through the end of October with overnight lane closures, reduced speeds and ramp closures, along with night and day work on the freeway shoulder, Madison Sehlke of the Washington State Department of Transportation told The Herald.
“Contractor crews working on behalf of Washington State Department of Transportation will close one lane at a time for paving on southbound Interstate 5 between Blaine and Ferndale,” Sehlke said.
That stretch of freeway sees 34,000 cars and trucks a day, Sehlke said in an email.
Here is a proposed work schedule:
▪ Nighttime lane closures: Southbound I-5 lane closures are allowed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly, Sundays through Friday mornings. The speed limit will be reduced to 55 mph for all lane shifts.
▪ Daytime and nighttime shoulder closures: Southbound I-5 shoulder closures are allowed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily Sundays through Thursdays or 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly Sundays through Friday mornings.
▪ Nighttime ramp closures and detours: Southbound I-5 ramp closures are allowed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly Sundays through Friday mornings.
This story was originally published July 10, 2025 at 10:45 AM.
