Date:  Monday, July 20, 2009

Contact: Bronlea Mishler, WSDOT communications, 360-757-5947
Chris Damitio, WSDOT project engineer, 360-788-7400

LYNDEN – Crews will completely close the Guide Meridian (SR 539) south of Lynden, between Pole and River roads, for four days to install two culverts under the road. Regular commuters and weekend travelers of the Guide will need to plan extra time into their schedules the weekend of July 24. The closure will start at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 23, and end by 6 a.m. Monday, July 27.

The complete closure will allow crews to install the two 25-foot-wide by 130-foot-long box culverts more quickly. The alternative would be to reduce the Guide to one lane for several weeks, causing substantial delays for drivers. The culverts are a challenge to install because they will sit nearly 30 feet below the level of the road.

One culvert will be installed just north of the Nooksack River near River Road. The second will be installed south of the river near the overflow bridges.

Businesses between River and Pole roads will remain open during the closure, and residents will have local access to homes and businesses. Detour signs will be posted and flaggers will direct traffic around the closure.

Southbound drivers will detour east from the Guide on Badger Road, head south on SR 9, then return to the Guide via Pole Road. Northbound drivers will detour on east Pole Road, head north on SR 9, and return to the Guide on Badger Road.

The culvert installation is part of a larger project to widen more than 10 miles of the Guide Meridian to four lanes to improve safety and reduce congestion for the more than 21,000 drivers who use the road daily. Read more about the project on our Web site: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR539/TenMileBorder/.  

To read more about the Guide closure, visit the Guide Meridian blog: http://guidemeridian.blogspot.com.  

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