Date:  Saturday, April 26, 2008

Contact: Dustin Terpening, WSDOT Communications, 360-661-7903

BELLINGHAM – A reminder to drivers who are taking to the road this sunny weekend, there is only one lane open southbound through Bellingham. The southbound right lane of I-5 closed at 10 p.m. Friday night in Bellingham and will remain closed until 6 a.m. Monday. Significant delays and backups are expected during the daytime this weekend.

WSDOT is asking local residents to avoid I-5 and use city streets, and that drivers passing through Bellingham use I-5 at off-peak times. The best times to use I-5 will be before 8 a.m. and after 7 p.m.

Drivers should check traffic cameras and the best times to travel on the WSDOT Web site before leaving.

Know before you go
Bellingham traffic cameras – www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/bellingham/  
Best travel times – www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i5/36thStToSlaterRdRepairs/traffic-volumes.htm  

The southbound on-ramp to I-5 from Iowa Street in Bellingham is also closed and will remain closed until 6 a.m. Monday. Detour signs are in place to help drivers get on I-5 from another nearby interchange.

Interstate 5 is reduced to one lane from Sunset Drive (exit 255) to Samish Way (exit 252). Approximately 76,000 drivers use this stretch of I-5 daily.

This work is part of a $4.5 million project that will replace 212 broken concrete panels, pave four rough ramps and smooth bumpy transitions across bridges. More project details are available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/36thStToSlaterRdRepairs/default.htm.  

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