Roads update: Section of Slater Road in Ferndale closed
Whatcom County Public Works has closed Slater Road between Ferndale city limits and Ferndale Road due to water over the roadway. The road will reopen when it is safe, according to an alert from Gina Miller with Whatcom County Public Works.
State Route 542 — Mount Baker Highway — is closed from milepost 35.6 to 43.5 due to slides, according to David Rasbach with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
“It is important to note that as the weather systems continue, this remains an active and evolving situation. We don’t know and won’t know the full condition until an assessment is complete and that means we need water to recede and to be able to clear the roadway and honestly, that’s just time for Mother Nature to finish what she started,” Rasbach said.
The northbound Interstate 5 ramps to and from Iowa Street in Bellingham reopened to traffic early Thursday after flooding forced closures of the ramps for most of Wednesday. Several Whatcom County roads remain closed due to flooding while others remain open but have water over the roadway.
The Bellingham Police Department issued a public alert at 11:38 a.m. on social media Wednesday stating there is water over the roadway in several areas of the city, and people should be careful when driving. Public Works is working to alleviate the issue or close roadways where necessary.
Woburn Street in Bellingham is closed between Iowa Street and Lakeway Drive. The changes to the roadway caused by heavy rainfall are being investigated by city staff.
Hannegan Road is closed again from Lynden city limits to Polinder Road, following an alert from Whatcom County Public Works at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17. The road was initially closed Dec. 9 due to water, but reopened the next day. With the recent alert, the road is closed again.
Whatcom County Public Works announced they will close the floodgates on Slater Road between the Ferndale City limits and Ferndale Road at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday due to water on the roadway, and are asking people to avoid the area.
The following roads are reported closed or to have heavy water according to Whatcom County. However, due to constant rainfall, the road conditions can quickly change. The list was last updated at 12:30 p.m., Dec. 17 on the county website.
- Alm Road east of Highway 9, water over roadway.
- Barrett Road at Paradise Road, closed.
- Bayon Road east of Marine Dive, closed.
- Bowen Road at Highway 9, closed.
- Bruce Road at 7411, water over roadway.
- Bylsma Road north of E. Wiser Lake Road, closed.
- Clearbrook west of Garrison Road, single lane closure.
- Deeter Road at the 8600 block, water over roadway.
- Dewey Road between north of Bakerview Road and Van Wyck Road, closed.
- Emerald Lake Way at the 1700 block, closed.
- Emerson Road south of Everson, single lane road.
- Ferndale Road north of Slater Road, water over roadway.
- Ferndale Road north of Marine Drive at gates, water over roadway.
- Flynn Road between Lynden city limits and River Road, closed.
- Garrison Road 8600 block, water over roadway.
- Gillis Road at Nooksack C/L to Alm Road, closed.
- Gillis Road at Lindsay Road, water over roadway.H
- Hampton Road south of Lynden city limits to Northwood Road, closed.
- Hannegan Road from Lynden city limits to the bridge, water over roadway.
- Hannegan Road Bakerview Road and Van Wyk Road, closed.
- Harskell Road east end to dead end, closed.
- E. Hemmi Road at the 1200 block, water over roadway.
- Hovel Road at the 9300 block, water over roadway.
- Imhoff Road south of Ferndale city limits, water over roadway.
- Innis Creek Road south of Doran, water over roadway.
- Jones Road west of Conchman, closed.
- Jones Road 4700 block east of Conchman, water over roadway.
- East Kelly Road at Yellow Brick Road, water over roadway.
- Kline Road east of King Mountain Road, water over roadway.
- Lake Samish Road at the 800 block, water over roadway.
- Lampman Road west of Haxton Road, water over roadway.
- Lampman Road at S. Church Road, closed.
- Lindsay Road between Garrison Road and North Telegraph Road, water over roadway.
- Marine Drive between Lummi Shore Road and Rural Avenue, closed.
- Marine Drive north of Bayon Road, closed.
- Marine Diver between Hoff Road and Bayon Road, closed.
- Mosquito Lake Road at 3400 block, closed.
- Mosquito Lake Road from Porter Creek to bridge, closed.
- Northwood Road between Hampton Road and Lynden City Limits, closed.
- Oat Coles Road south of South Pass Road near the bridge, water over roadway.
- Ritter Road at the dead end, closed.
- River Road west of Flynn Road, single lane closed.
- Silver Lake Road north of Maple Falls, water over roadway.
- Silver Lake Road north of Bear Ridge Lane, loose gravel.
- Slotemaker Road at 8100 block, abrupt lane edge.
- West Smith Road east of Northwest Drive, water over roadway.
- West Smith Road at Hovander Road, water over roadway.
- Thiel Road at Van Dyk Road, water over roadway.
- Timon Road east of Northwood Road, water over roadway.
- Ulrick Road east of South Church Road, water over roadway.
- Van Wyk Road east of Dewey Road, water over roadway.
- Wickersham Road east of Highway 9, water over roadway.
This story was originally published December 10, 2025 at 12:46 PM.
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