 Sept. 27, 2024
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 State Route 542/Mount Baker Highway will close for seasonal maintenance and winter preparation beginning at 7 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30, near Six Mile Chain up Area (milepost 39).
Our maintenance crews will perform early winter maintenance, such as clearing catch basins and ditches, removing hazardous or dead trees, making guard rail repairs and sweeping shoulders.
Closure details
- From 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, Monday, Sept. 30, until Thursday, Oct. 3, crews will close SR 542 near the Six Mile chain up Area (mileposts 39 to 54) for maintenance.
- People who wish to travel beyond the closure points during n on closure hours are permitted to do so at their own risk. T hey must be past milepost 54 before 7 a.m. and will not be permitted back through the closure point until after 4 p.m.
Reminder, the road to Artist Point on State Route 542/Mount Baker Highway closes for the season in the late fall or early winter. The timing of the closure is dependent on the season's first significant snowfall.
 If you plan to travel on southbound Interstate 5 through Whatcom County you should prepare for ramp closures between Ferndale and Bellingham beginning at 7 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 26.
Contractor crews working will close the southbound I-5 on- and off-ramps at Slater Road (exit 260) to prepare for the I-5/Slater Road roundabout construction.
Ramp closures
- The Slater Road on-ramp to southbound I-5 will close for five days from 7 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, to 6 a.m. Tuesday, Oct.1.
- The southbound I-5 off-ramp to Slater Road will close for 10 days from 6 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, to 6 a.m. Friday, Oct. 11.
This project already has removed a smaller, compact roundabout to replace it with a larger, two-lane roundabout. The new roundabout will improve safety and increase flow of traffic through the corridor. The project includes curb installation, colored concrete islands, paving, stormwater work and new lights and signs.
Today, we are honoring fallen Trooper Christopher Gadd.
On Friday, September 27th, the Washington State Patrol (WSP) will be conducting a statewide “One More Stop” emphasis patrol in honor of fallen Trooper Christopher Gadd – Badge # 927. The statewide emphasis will be conducted from 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27 to 5 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28. Troopers and officers across the state will be working together to meet our shared mission of reducing dangerous driving behaviors to save the lives of those traveling on our roadways.
As you know, Trooper Gadd was killed after being struck by an impaired driver on Interstate 5 just north of Marysville on March 2, 2024. Prior to the tragic incident, Trooper Gadd had messaged to his detachment members he was going to meet up with them for break after “One More Stop.”
The message signs display safety reminders to encourage drivers to commit to safer roads.
Save lives, drive sober.
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People often dream about the day they graduate high school, complete a trade program or head off to college. They want to pursue their passions and provide a better life for themselves or their loved ones. They want a future.
For people who are experiencing homelessness, though, that dream often isn’t a reality.
People living unsheltered are often concerned with where their next meal will come from, let alone entry into the workforce. Many times, they lack basic items needed for work. Applying for a job requires a permanent address for applications and personal identification. People need computer access to learn about or apply for jobs. A “just get a job!” approach doesn’t solve those challenges.
That’s where our job training programs come in.
In addition to job-specific skills, the program helps students address barriers to employment. Examples include:
- Driver licenses – both written and driving testing or help reissuing lost cards.
- Obtaining transcripts/documentation.
- Addressing mental or behavioral health challenges.
- Partnering with local pre-apprenticeship and training programs for employment preparation certificates.
- Employment preparation training (workplace expectations, communication skills, resume workshops, interview preparation, etc.).
- Case management support, including tips on how be successful after finding employment.
Read the our blog for more details about the program, data on its success and what's next.
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 People traveling across Lake Washington on State Route 520, through the Interstate 405/SR 167 corridors, and on I-5 in Seattle and between Federal Way and Tacoma, should prepare for major closures starting late Friday, Sept. 27, to early Monday, Sept. 30.
Together these closures create a “monster” traveler challenge – during our biggest weekend of construction closures for the region this year. Knowing the location of each closure will help drivers prepare in advance and make alternate plans to get around the region.
If you’re headed south this weekend, plan ahead for the Monster Weekend of work, remember:
- Give EXTRA travel time
- Check the weather
- Know alternative routes & detour
- Use our travel map, download our app:
We often have special events and roadwork taking place in the Northend, including construction projects, maintenance and repairs. We always try to minimize any effects to travel, but sometimes it is necessary to close a lane to do the work or create a safe work zone for our crews.
While we aren't doing a lot of roadwork this week, our crews will still be out monitoring and keeping the roads safe. If you spot them, slow down and give them space to work! A huge thanks to our crews for all their hard work through the holidays.
Want more information? Visit our real time travel center, where these projects and repairs can be found on our travel map, and download our app to receive alerts directly to your smartphone.
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Sunday, Sept. 29 to Friday, Oct. 4
- Nightly from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 29 to Friday morning, Oct. 4, construction crews will have intermittent single lane closures on both directions of Interstate 5 near North Lake Samish (milepost 246) south of Bellingham in support of the I-5 Friday Lake and Chuckanut Creek fish passage barrier removal project. The North Lake Samish on-ramp to northbound I-5 and the North Lake Samish off-ramp from southbound I-5 will have short term closures.
Monday, Sept. 30 to Thursday, Oct. 3
- Daily from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30 to Thursday, Oct. 3, maintenance crews will close both directions of State Route 542 6 east of Glacier between East Church Mountain Road (milepost 39) and the Mount Baker Ski Lodge (milepost 54) for winter preparation. Local and emergency traffic will have roadway access.
Tuesday, Oct. 1 to Friday, Oct. 11
- From 7 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1 to 7 a.m. Friday, Oct. 11 construction crews will close the southbound Interstate 5 off-ramp to Slater Road in Ferndale for roadwork for the I-5 Slater Road interchange roundabout project. Eastbound and westbound traffic will alternate on Slater Road with a temporary signal.
Wednesday, Oct. 2 to Thursday, Oct. 3
- From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily, on State Route 542 between Britton Road and Van Wyck Road, and also near Marshall Hill Road (milepost 2 to 4, and 16), flaggers will alternate traffic through a single lane for Puget Sound Energy utility work.
Wednesday, Oct. 2 to Friday, Oct. 4
- Nightly from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2 to Friday morning, Oct. 4, construction crews will alternate traffic on North Lake Samish Road near Interstate 5 south of Bellingham in support of the I-5 Friday Lake and Chuckanut Creek fish passage barrier removal project.
Thursday, Oct. 3
- From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, maintenance crews will close the left lane of both directions of Interstate 5 in Mount Vernon near Anderson Road (milepost 225) for survey work in the median.
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