Date:  Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Contact: Bronlea Mishler, WSDOT communications, 360-757-5947 (Burlington)
Chris Damitio, WSDOT project engineer, 360-788-7403 (Bellingham)

BELLINGHAM – Crews will put down the long-awaited final layer of asphalt on a half-mile stretch of SR 539 between Axton and Smith roads beginning Wednesday, April 15. Drivers will notice single-lane closures and minor delays as crews complete paving work.

Crews will close one lane of SR 539 (Guide Meridian) from 7 p.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. Thursday to prelevel the road. Crews will return at 7 a.m. Friday, April 17, to begin placing the final layer of asphalt. This paving will require alternating single-lane closures until 5 p.m. Crews will also pave, using single-lane closures, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, April 20. This work is weather dependent, and crews will reschedule work in the event of rain.

This work represents the final milestone for crews working on the southern portion of the $66.3 million Guide widening project, between Horton and Ten Mile roads. This project supported more than 663 local jobs during construction. Once the paving is finished, this section of the widened roadway will be considered officially complete.

Paving crews plan to work from south to north, starting on the east side of the roadway. Once the east side is done, crews will switch traffic to the other side of the road and pave the west side.

In order to ensure a high-quality, long-lasting roadway, crews will need to limit access to residences and businesses while the asphalt cools. During paving, access to residences and businesses will be restricted for 5 to 10 minutes while the pavement is compacted and cools. Flaggers will be on hand to assist motorists.

The asphalt is approximately 300 degrees when it is put down. Driving on hot asphalt can permanently damage the road and vehicle paint.

Crews are also working on the second stage of the widening project, from Ten Mile Road north to Lynden. Crews working on this stage of the project will build four roundabouts, divide the highway with cable median barrier and construct a new bridge over the Nooksack River.

For more information about the Guide widening project, visit the project Web page at www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR539/HortonTenMile or the Guide Meridian blog, http://guidemeridian.blogspot.com.

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