Project Facts
- On average, nearly 80,000 vehicles use I-5 at Iowa Street daily.
- Contruction will take about two months to complete.
- Most of the construction work will take place overnight to reduce delays and inconvenience for drivers.
Overview
We will repave four I-5 ramps at Lakeway Drive and Iowa Street, repair and replace more than 200 concrete panels on I-5 from Samish Way to Sunset Drive in Bellingham and near Ferndale, and smooth rough transitions on and off highway bridges.
Why is WSDOT
fixing I-5 and repairing on-ramps and off-ramps?
This section of I-5 is the original roadway built in the 1950s. It is showing its age through settling, cracks and broken panels. It needs repairs to better meet the needs of the nearly 80,000 drivers who use it every day.
Transitions on and off I-5 bridges in this stretch are worn. Sections of I-5 have settled where they meet the bridges because underlying supports have broken. As cars drive over the uneven connections, the surface wears and cracks further.
On-ramps and exits need to be paved to extend their useful life span.
The End Result
This project will improve pavement on rough on-ramps and off-ramps at Lakeway Drive and Iowa Street, and smooth cracks and abrupt separations in panels and at bridges on I-5 between Samish Way and Sunset Drive, and at Slater Road near Ferndale.
Project Benefits
This work will extend the lifespan of the freeway, make it smoother for drivers and improve safety.
What is the project timeline?
- Spring 2007 - Only one contractor bid on the project. The bid was nearly $1 million more than engineers' estimates of $3 million for construction. The bid exceeded WSDOT's available budget.
- Winter 2007 - We advertised the project again.
- January 2008 - Wilder Construction was awarded a $3.2 million contract.
- April-May 2008 - Construction on I-5 lanes.
- May 2008 - Construction on I-5 ramps.
Public Involvement
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. Open houses will be held and informational flyers will be distributed as needed to inform the public about the project and its impacts. Please contact Dustin Terpening at 360-757-5997 with questions and comments.
Environmental Protection
WSDOT makes every effort to assess and minimize environmental impact from our projects. During project design, WSDOT will work to reduce the impact to wetlands, creeks and rivers in the project area. A detailed analysis of the project's environmental impacts will be completed and, if necessary, an appropriate plan for mitigating impacts will be developed and documented as part of the environmental documentation and permitting processes.
Water systems adjacent to the project will be protected. Among other water protection measures, storm drain inserts will be used to trap pollutants before they leave the work site.
Please visit the WSDOT Environmental
Services Web site for more information.
Increasing safety is one of our priorities
Smoothing the road surface will improve safety for drivers.
Will this project impact tribal resources?
This project is exempt from tribal review. To learn more about Section 106 Tribal Consultation of the National Historic Preservation Act (also called government-to-government tribal consultation process) please check out WSDOT's Tribal Liaison page. Here you can find the WSDOT Centennial Accord Plan and WSDOT's Tribal Consultation Policy (Adopted by the Transportation Commission on Feb. 19, 2003).
Financial Information
This project is funded through the following sources:
- Existing funds - $5.1 million
- Total funding available from all sources - $5.1 million
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Communications Dustin Terpening
1043 Goldenrod Road, Suite 101
Burlington, WA 98233-3415
Phone: 360-757-5997
E-mail: Terpenid@wsdot.wa.gov
Project Engineer Dave Crisman
1109 East Hickox Road
Mount Vernon, WA 98274
Phone: 360-428-1593
E-mail: Crismad@wsdot.wa.gov
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