Overview
We dramatically changed and improved State Route 9 in Whatcom County between Lindsey Road near Nooksack and Cherry Street near the Sumas border crossing. We straightened, widened and smoothed the highway to make it safer and more accessible year round. We removed three 90-degree turns from the highway and we 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. We opened the completed highway Nov. 22.
 | Improves Safety
The new section of SR 9 is wider, straighter and smoother. Wider shoulders and wider, shallower ditches should reduce damage and injuries if cars go off the road. They also should reduce the amount of snow that can accumulate into drifts in winter, and should give plows more room to push snow off the road. Visibility was improved with new lighting at railroad crossings and intersections.
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 | Relieves Congestion
SR 9 should stay open more often in winter, reducing traffic on alternate routes. The highway was built with a deeper layer of rocks below the surface that should reduce winter damage when ice thaws, and reduce the need to close the road to heavy trucks.
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 | Protects Environment
We built a new 2.3-acre wetland near Johnson Creek to balance the effects of work in the project area. Protecting fish passage and habitat were significant parts of this project. We installed two new concrete box culverts to improve drainage and fish passage along Easterbrook Creek and Bone Creek. We moved a 580-foot section of Bone Creek near Bowen Road because we shifted Easterbrook Road to the east. Existing culverts were cleaned and extended, and all existing culverts less than 18 inches wide were replaced.
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Partnerships & Cooperation
Funding
This project was funded through the following fund sources:
- 2003 Gas Tax (Nickel Funding) - $16,257,000
- Existing Funds - $1,770,000
- Total Funding Available From All Sources - $18,027,000
For project schedule and updates, please see the Quarterly Project Report.
Contact Us
Project Engineer, Chris Damitio
WSDOT Bellingham Project Office
460 Stuart Road
Bellingham, WA 98226
Phone: 360-788-7400
E-mail: DamitiC@wsdot.wa.gov
Communications Dustin Terpening
WSDOT Mt. Baker Headquarters
1043 Goldenrod Road, Suite 101
Burlington, WA 98233-3415
Phone: 360-757-5997
E-mail: Terpenid@wsdot.wa.gov
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