February 2013
- We are currently designing this project.
- Construction will begin in 2013.
Overview
We will build roundabouts at the intersections of Depot and Bender roads along Badger Road (SR 546) in Lynden to improve safety and traffic flow.
Why is WSDOT
building roundabouts on Badger Road?
We’ve had bad crashes at the Depot and Bender roads intersections in recent years. The kind of crashes where people get seriously hurt, like rear-end and t-bone crashes.
Roundabouts have been shown to reduce injury crashes by 70 percent and fatal crashes by 90 percent, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. They also reduce delays and keep traffic moving.
The End Result
Our goal is to make safety improvements that will help reduce injury and fatal collisions, help improve safety, and relieve congestion. We believe roundabouts will do just that.
We considered other improvements, like signals, but chose roundabouts because they are a better fit for the intersections.
The roundabouts will also help keep freight moving along this highway of regional and statewide significance.
Project Benefits
Freight mobility - Badger Road is of particular importance because it parallels the U.S./Canada border and is a designated freight route. It is book-ended by SR 539 and SR 9. This project will improve connections to freight border crossings at SR 539 and SR 9.
Safety - Studies have shown that roundabouts are safer than traditional stop sign or signal-controlled intersections.
Roundabouts reduced injury crashes by 75 percent at intersections where stop signs or signals were previously used for traffic control, according to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Studies by the IIHS and Federal Highway Administration have shown that roundabouts typically achieve:
* A 37 percent reduction in overall collisions
* A 75 percent reduction in injury collisions
* A 90 percent reduction in fatality collisions
* A 40 percent reduction in pedestrian collisions
What is the project timeline?
- Spring 2011 - Begin design
- May 2011 - Community meeting
- May 2012 - Community meeting
- 2013 - Begin construction
Financial Information
Project signage will reflect the cost of construction engineering, project bid award and sales tax.
Funding for this project comes from the federal Coordinated Border Infrastructure (CBI) program. This is a unique opportunity to complete priority improvements and create jobs in Whatcom County using funds that must be dedicated to border-related projects.
- Coordinated Border Infrastructure funding - $8 million
- Total funds available - $8 million
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Communications, Dave Chesson
1043 Goldenrod Road, Suite 101
Burlington, WA 98223
Phone: 360-757-5997
Email: chessod@wsdot.wa.gov
or
Project Engineer, Chris Damitio
460 Stuart Road
Bellingham, WA 98226
Phone: 360-788-7400
E-mail: chris.damitio@wsdot.wa.gov
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