WSDOT wants to make sure that state highways are safe and move traffic efficiently. In an effort to achieve that goal, we have made $251 million in safety and mobility improvements to all four border highways in Whatcom County.

Border cameras

We have installed 11 new cameras at all four Whatcom County border crossings so travelers can stay better informed about traffic conditions and possible delays. We also have cameras stationed along roads leading to the border.

Traffic detectors are installed at each crossing to measure border wait times. The wait times will be displayed on our Web site and on electronic signs along I-5. This information will help travelers decide when and where to cross the border.

Peace Arch expansion

WSDOT is working with the federal General Services Administration to expand the U.S. Customs facility at the Peace Arch / I-5 border crossing to accommodate more traffic, and improve the I-5 Blaine interchange.

This border expansion project will provide a safer entrance to and from the Peace Arch border crossing and will work in conjunction with a federal construction project to increase border security. Improvements at the Blaine interchange will help with traffic flow and inspections at the border crossing, while meeting current highway safety standards.

The majority of the border crossing expansion should be complete prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C. WSDOT will begin construction on the I-5/Blaine intersection improvement project following the 2010 Olympics.

Pacific Highway crossing remodel

The Pacific Highway truck crossing reopened to traffic in 2008 after an extensive remodel. The State Route 543/D Street interchange was rebuilt with an overpass to separate local and border-bound traffic and reduce congestion.

We also added a designated truck lane that lines up with the commercial inspection booths to better serve the more than 2,000 commercial vehicles that use the crossing daily. The extra lanes and new D Street overpass help separate cars and trucks and eliminate conflicts and congestion at intersections. Local Blaine residents areto cross SR 543 at D Street on the new overpass with no delay or hassle. 

SR 539/Guide Meridian widening

We are widening Guide Meridian / State Route 539 to four lanes from Bellingham to Lynden, just south of the U.S.-Canada border, and adding roundabouts at key intersections. There will be two lanes in each direction, providing more room for drivers. Four key intersections will have new roundabouts to help foster a safe and continuous flow of traffic, and the northbound and southbound lanes will be divided by a median with cable barrier to help prevent deadly crossover collisions. More than four miles of Guide Meridian will be transformed from a narrow two-lane roadway with minimal shoulders to a wider and safer four-lane highway. Work is expected to be complete by the end of 2009.

I-5 Everett freeway expansion

To help eliminate sudden lane changes and improve a major traffic chokepoint, crews will increase traffic flow and safety on I-5 in Everett by widening the northbound and southbound freeway lanes to include an extra merging lane between 41st and US 2, extend the HOV lanes from Boeing Freeway (SR 526) to US 2 (Hewitt Avenue Trestle) and make several other safety and traffic flow improvements.

Crews will modify the I-5/41st Street interchange by building a new, wider 41st Street bridge, adding and widening ramps - including a new northbound I-5 exit, a new southbound I-5 entrance and installing new signals.

This project is a step in the right direction to help fix one of our state's most notorious bottlenecks. When we complete construction, additional lanes will help traffic flow more smoothly through Everett. The extra lanes will help prevent long backups during rush hour travel. Work should be complete by summer 2008.

SR 9 upgrades

Improvements on State Route 9 near Nooksack and the Sumas border crossing were completed in November 2006. We removed three 90-degree turns from the highway and improved drainage beneath the road surface. We want semi trucks to move faster and safer along SR 9 on their way to and from the border. 

Rest area improvements

We are working to improve safety rest areas along the I-5 corridor. We plan to lease additional truck parking capacity at the Bow Hill and Custer rest areas. We will also revise access to rest areas to accommodate more tour buses. Sidewalk repairs, improved ADA access, and lighting and security upgrades are also on our list of projects. Additionally, we hope to provide traveler information and brochures at rest areas.