Date:  Friday, May 30, 2008

Contact: Contacts: Dave Chesson, Communications - 360-757-5970 (Burlington)

BELLINGHAM – Early birds and night owls may have an advantage in avoiding long delays and backups on I-5 in Bellingham this weekend. Drivers who travel in the middle of the day on Saturday or Sunday can expect delays of at least 30 minutes and backups several miles long.

Crews are hoping this weekend of closures will be the last they need to complete the replacement of cracked concrete panels. Intermittent on- and off-ramp closures will take place in mid-June.

I-5 will be reduced to one lane in both directions from Samish Way (exit 252) to Sunset Drive (exit 255) as crews replace broken concrete panels. The right lanes of north- and southbound I-5 will close at 10 p.m. Friday and won’t reopen until 6 a.m. Monday.

There are no simple or close alternate routes around the construction. The best bet to avoid long delays is to get through the construction zone before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. each day this weekend.

Travel graphs showing the best and worst times to use I-5 are available at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i5/36thStToSlaterRdRepairs/traffic-volumes.

Local residents and drivers who can avoid I-5 should use local routes to reach their destinations. Those passing through Bellingham should plan ahead and expect delays.

Bellingham traffic cameras are available at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/bellingham.

WSDOT reminds drivers who have to drive through the work zone to prepare for stop-and-go traffic and long delays by having a full tank of fuel.

Stay tuned into the closure schedule by subscribing to Whatcom County e-mail updates at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/northwest/emailupdates.

Pictures of the work are available for viewing, downloading and commenting at: www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/sets/72157604802092229.

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