Date:  Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Contact: Dustin Terpening, WSDOT Communications, 360-757-5997
Marco Foster, WSDOT Engineering Manager, 360-757-5991

BELLINGHAM – The cold, wet and possibly snowy weather forecast for this weekend has forced crews to indefinitely delay weekend-long lane closures planned for I-5 in Bellingham April 18-21.

WSDOT had planned to close lanes for 56 hours straight this weekend to remove and replace broken concrete panels.

Crews need relatively warm and dry conditions to pour concrete during the weekend work.

“It’s the cold temperatures that are holding us back,” Project Engineer Dave Crisman said. “The concrete won’t set properly if it’s too cold or too wet.”

Crews will continue working at night during the week.

To improve and maintain I-5, crews will replace 212 broken concrete panels, pave four rough ramps and smooth bumpy transitions across bridges. The work will cost $4.5 million.

This section of road was built in the 1950s and is showing its age through settling, cracks and broken panels. It needs repairs to better meet the needs of the nearly 80,000 drivers who use it every day.

One good way to stay informed about lane closures is to sign up for e-mail updates at www.wsdot.wa.gov/northwest/emailupdates, and subscribe for Whatcom County.

All the project information will be available on the project Web site as well, www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/36thStToSlaterRdRepairs.  

< Back to News Home