Date:  Thursday, July 17, 2008

Contact: Dustin Terpening, WSDOT Communications, 360-757-5997 (Burlington)

BELLINGHAM – The around-the-clock lane closure north of Bellingham will end Friday morning. It will start again Sunday evening and last for one more week while crews to continue removing and replacing broken concrete panels.

Next week, crews will close the northbound right lane of I-5 at Silver Creek, north of Slater Road (exit 260) from 7 p.m. Sunday, July 20, to 11 a.m. Friday, July 25.

In addition to replacing concrete panels, crews will also rebuild the road foundation because it is soft and wet and is causing the panels to crack. The new foundation will be more sturdy and stable.

Drivers should expect the longest delays between 4 and 7 p.m. daily. Approximately 42,000 drivers use I-5 daily near Slater Road.

Local residents and drivers who can avoid I-5 should use local routes to reach their destinations. Those passing through the area in the afternoons should plan ahead and expect backups several miles long and delays of 10 minutes or more.

This is the last of two weeklong lane closures.

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.

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

This work is part of the ongoing I-5 construction that started earlier this year by replacing broken concrete panels in Bellingham, smoothing rough bridge transitions and paving ramps. More project details can be found at www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/36thStToSlaterRdRepairs.  

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

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