Date:
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Contact:
Contacts: Dustin Terpening, Communications - 360-757-5997 (Burlington)
BELLINGHAM – Before taking to the road this weekend, be sure to check the Bellingham traffic cameras for a bird’s-eye view of construction and backups on I-5. The cameras are available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/bellingham/. Cameras located at Lakeway, Iowa and Sunset will show the work zone.
Crews closed the northbound and southbound left lanes at 10 p.m. Friday. The lanes will reopen at 6 a.m. Monday. Crews are replacing broken concrete panels between Samish Way (exit 252) and Sunset Drive (exit 255). Only one lane will remain open in either direction.
With the combination of warm weather, a Canadian holiday and local events in Bellingham, WSDOT expects delays to exceed 30 minutes and backups to stretch for several miles during peak travel times.
The best way to avoid the long delays is to get through the work zone before 8 a.m. and after 7 p.m. The earlier or later you can leave on Saturday or Sunday, the better. There are no simple or close alternate routes around the construction.
Travel graphs showing the best and worst times to use I-5 are available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i5/36thStToSlaterRdRepairs/traffic-volumes.htm.
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.
Pictures of the work are available for viewing, downloading and commenting at www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/sets/72157604802092229/.
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.
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