Overview
We will transform Guide Meridian (SR 539) from a narrow two-lane roadway to a wider and safer four-lane highway between Ten Mile Road and Lynden. We also will divide the highway with a median and cable barrier, and we will build four roundabouts at key intersections to further improve safety.
Why is WSDOT
widening and dividing Guide Meridian?
Approximately 20,000 drivers use Guide Meridian on a daily basis south of Lynden. The highway is a popular freight route for semitrucks, too. When it first was built, the two-lane Guide Meridian adequately served the needs of drivers. But traffic has exceeded the limits of the highway. Drivers routinely experience congestion and delay. We will widen the highway and incorporate safety features to help improve safety and mobility for drivers.
The End Result
The highway will be significantly different and vastly improved when we're finished with construction. There will be two lanes in each direction, providing more room for drivers. Intersections at Ten Mile, Wiser Lake, Pole and River roads 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. In all, 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.
Project Benefits
- Roundabouts - Roundabouts are an innovative, efficient and cost effective solution for improving safety and traffic flow at highway intersections. The four roundabouts will allow traffic to flow more freely on both county roads and Guide Meridian, helping relieve congestion and improve safety. Roundabouts dramatically reduce serious crashes.
- Bridges - we will build a new bridge over the Nooksack River, next to the existing bridge, and we will widen or replace the Wiser Lake, Fishtrap Creek and Floodway bridges.
- Environment - we will create new wetlands to replace those lost during construction. We also will install new stormwater collection and treatment systems to clean up and filter water that runs off the highway.
What is the project timeline?
- Winter 2009 - complete new truss bridge over Nooksack River
- Summer 2009 - open new roundabouts
- Spring 2009 - begin construction of four roundabouts, truss bridge assembly
- Spring 2008 - start construction.
- Feb. 19, 2008 - We awarded this project to Max J. Kuney Company for their bid of $53.9 million.
- Dec. 17, 2007 - We advertised this project to contractors.
- Summer 2007 - move utilities away from the roadway (i.e., water, sewer, power)
- August 2006 - Commercial drivers tried out a temporary roundabout built to the exact measurements of the future Guide Meridian roundabout. They drove large trucks, buses and farm equipment through the roundabout. Their reactions and the results were surprising.
- April 2006 - awarded Phase 1 of this project to American Construction. Last summer, we worked with the company to drive test pilings into the banks of the Nooksack River. The test pilings will help us accurately design and estimate the cost of the new Nooksack River Bridge.
- Spring 2003 - funding became available for this project.
Financial Information
This project is funded through the following fund sources:
- 2003 gas tax (Nickel Funding) - $105.2 million
- Existing funds - $1.5 million
- Total funding available from all sources - $106.7 million
For project schedule and updates, please see the
Quarterly Project Report.
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Project Engineer Chris Damitio
460 Stuart Road
Bellingham, WA 98226
Phone: 360-788-7400
E-mail: DamitiC@wsdot.wa.gov
Communications Dustin Terpening
1043 Goldenrod Road, Suite 101
Burlington, WA 98233
Phone: 360-757-5947
E-mail: terpenid@wsdot.wa.gov
Whatcom County highway
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