Traffic Report: There’s a new speed limit for 9-mile stretch of Chuckanut Drive
A permanent speed limit reduction to 35 mph is active on Chuckanut Drive (State Route 11) south of Bellingham as of Friday, April 17. The reduction is in place for 9 miles along the road from mileposts 9.38 to 17.99.
A short section of SR 11 (mileposts 8.84 to 9.46) south of the new speed limit area remains 40 mph. That segment serves as a transition between the higher speed limit further south and the new 35 mph limit along the more scenic section of Chuckanut Drive near the bay, according to the Washington Department of Transportation.
The new 35 mph speed limit became enforceable as soon as the new signs were installed. The reduction from the current 40 mph limit was made after WSDOT traffic engineers reviewed data in the corridor in response to multiple questions about the speed limit and recreational activity in the area.
Freeways and highways
Northbound Interstate 5 south of Bellingham opened Wednesday, April 15 after being closed for nearly a month following a March 19 landslide.
Interstate 5 between Bellingham and Burlington will have nightly I-5 lane reductions in both directions through Friday, April 24. The reductions will be northbound and southbound between Alger Road and North Lake Samish Road from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
North Cascades Highway (State Route 20) is closed in both directions from Colonial Creek Campground at milepost 130 to the Ross Dam Trailhead at milepost 134 following a rock slide. There is no estimated time for reopening
Guide Meridian (State Route 539) the northbound right lane will close every night from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. between Wednesday, April 22 and Friday, April 24 for utility work.
I-5 Ramp Closures
- The northbound I-5 off-ramp to Peace Portal Drive will close from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday, April 23.
- The Bakerview Road on-ramp to I-5 will close from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m Thursday, April 23. The right lane of southbound I-5 and the southbound I-5 off-ramp at Northwest Avenue will also be closed from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Whatcom County
The following roads are currently closed or under construction in Whatcom County. An interactive map on the status of Whatcom County roads is available at the county’s website.
Closed
- Bayon Road to the north of Marine Drive; water over the roadway.
- Sunset Avenue west of Graveline Road
- Lampman Road at South Church Road
- Marshall Hill Road east of Cronk Road
- South Church Road between Lampman Road and Ulrich Road; water over the roadway.
- Both directions of East Pole Road (State Route 544) will be closed from Robinson Street to Everson Road until July 3. All vehicles should use Robinson Road and Everson Street to detour during the closure.
Restricted
- Academy Road from the 2100 block to the dead end is reduced to a single lane.
- Gulf Road south of Henry Road is reduced to one lane. Motorists should be prepared to stop and motorcycles should use caution.
- Drayton Harbor Road west of Blaine Road has an abrupt lane edge.
- Bowman Road off Saxon Road, rough road and motorcycles use extreme caution.
- Blysma Road from Poliner to E Wiser Lake Road has water over the roadway.
- Chief Martin Road between Scott Road and Cagey Road.
- West Shore Drive at Legoe Bay Road is reduced to one lane. Vehicles should be prepared to stop and motorcycles use extreme caution.
- Custer School Road north of Creasey Road is a rough road and motorcycles should use extreme caution.
- Ham Road south of Bay Road is a rough road and motorcycles should use extreme caution.
- Hampton Road west of Slotemaker Road has an abrupt lane edge.
- Harborview Road south of Birch Bay Lynden Road is a rough road and motorcycles should use extreme caution.
- Hillaire Road north of Kwina Road is a rough road and motorcycles should use extreme caution.
- Jackman Road north of H Street Road has an abrupt lane edge.
- Martin Road near the bridge is reduced to one lane. Motorists should be prepared to stop.
- Minaker Road west of Vedder View Lane is a rough road and motorcycles should use extreme caution.
- Nolte Road east of Van Dyk Road is a rough road and motorcycles should use extreme caution.
- Nooksack Road north of the high school has an abrupt lane edge.
- Park Road at the 4700 block is a rough road with loose gravel. Motorcycles should use extreme caution.
- Slotemaker Road at the 8100 block has an abrupt lane edge.
- South Pass Road east of North Pass Road has an abrupt lane edge.
- Summerland Road south of West Lake Samish Drive has an abrupt lane edge.
- Theil Road north of Van Dyk Road has an abrupt lane edge.
- Van Burien Road north of Tom Road has an abrupt lane edge.
- West Shore Drive at Legoe Bay Road is reduced to one lane. Motorists should be prepared to stop. The road is rough and motorcycles are advised to use extreme caution.
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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 5:15 AM with the headline "Traffic Report: There’s a new speed limit for 9-mile stretch of Chuckanut Drive."
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