 April 24, 2026
 You have a new reason to slow down and enjoy the scenery along one of Washington’s most beautiful highways: A permanent speed-limit reduction is now in place along a nearly 9-mile stretch in both directions of State Route 11/Chuckanut Drive south of Bellingham.
On Friday, April 17, our crews installed 35 mph speed limit signs from south of Blanchard Road in Skagit County to south of Spokane Street in Whatcom County (mileposts 9.38 to 17.99). The northern end of the new speed limit ties into an existing 35 mph zone approaching the Fairhaven Park entrance (milepost 19.58).
A short section of SR 11 (mileposts 8.84 to 9.46) south of the new speed limit area remains 40 mph. That segment serves as a transition between the higher speed limit further south and the new 35 mph limit along the more scenic section of Chuckanut Drive near the bay.
The speed reduction was made after our traffic engineers reviewed data in the corridor in response to multiple questions about the speed limit and recreational activity in the area.
From 8 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. nightly Monday and Tuesday, April 27-28, northbound and southbound Interstate 5 will be reduced to one lane in multiple locations between Samish Way (milepost 252) and Meridian Street (milepost 256) in Bellingham.
We will collect roadway samples for materials testing during the lane reductions. This work supports a future project that will preserve roadways around the region during the 2027 construction season.
More nighttime I-5 work
People traveling south of Bellingham also should expect nightly lane reductions from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, April 26, through Friday morning, May 1, at two other locations:
- The right lanes of northbound and southbound I-5 near North Lake Samish Road (mileposts 245 to 247).
- The left lanes of northbound and southbound I-5 near Alger Road (mileposts 240 to 242).
This work is part of an ongoing fish passage project removing barriers to fish migration along I-5 near Lake Samish.
Both directions of Old Samish Road will close to through traffic beginning at 5 a.m. Monday, April 27, near Chuckanut Creek south of Bellingham.
This is a Whatcom County road that runs parallel to I-5 from North Lake Samish Road (I-5 exit 246) and connects with SR 11/Chuckanut Drive. It will remain closed until the end of the year. Local access will be permitted from the east and west to the closure points near Chuckanut Creek, but through traffic will need to use alternate routes.
During the closure, we will remove barriers to fish migration along Chuckanut Creek as part of a project correcting 17 barriers near Lake Samish.
What to expect
Old Samish Road will be used to build a temporary two-lane bypass for southbound I-5 traffic during the spring and summer months, while crews remove a barrier to fish under southbound I-5. Northbound I-5 will use another temporary two-lane bypass while the barrier is corrected under those lanes.
Once that work finishes, southbound I-5 will return to its original alignment. Old Samish Road will remain closed to through traffic until the end of the year while a new fish passable structure is installed beneath the county road.
While bicyclists traditionally use the area beyond the annual closure of SR 20/North Cascades Highway, these areas still require repair.
SR 20 remains closed east of Newhalem (milepost 130) at Diablo Lake after a slide March 17. The road will remain closed due to rocks on the roadway. The closure is about 4 miles from the seasonal closure point at Ross Dam trailhead (milepost 134).
There is more damage to SR 20 beyond the seasonal closure gates that must be repaired. This damage (between mileposts 143 and 145) occurred during December's atmospheric river and flooding events.
Our design teams have visited the areas and we hope to get emergency repairs started soon. But we do not have an update when we will be able to open the North Cascades Highway from the west side.
People should avoid this area until safe roadway conditions are re-established. Biking in this area is not recommended until those repairs are finished. Once we begin repairs, both areas will likely be active work zones seven days a week. Only authorized people wearing proper personal protective equipment are allowed within our work zones.
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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.
If you spot our crews, slow down and give them space to work! A huge thanks to our crews for all their hard work.
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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Whatcom County
State Route 539
- The northbound right lane will close from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly Monday, April 27, to Friday morning, May 1, near Bay Lyn Drive (mileposts 10 to 11) for utility work.
- Expect short-term single-lane and shoulder closures from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily Tuesday through Thursday, April 28-30, along northbound and southbound SR 539/Meridian Street between I-5 and Kellogg Road (mileposts 0-1). Single lanes and shoulders along the northbound I-5 off-ramp to SR 539, the SR 539 on-ramp to northbound I-5 and both SR 539 on-ramps to southbound I-5 also will close for sampling to prepare for a future project.
Skagit County
State Route 9
- Northbound and southbound traffic will alternate from 7p.m. to 5a.m. nightly Wednesday, April 29, through Friday morning, May 1, south of Mount Vernon Big Lake Road (milepost 49) for utility work.
- Northbound and southbound traffic will alternate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily Tuesday through Thursday, April 28 to 30, from Lake McMurray Lane (milepost 39) to Holyoke Street (milepost 40) for maintenance.
State Route 20
- The eastbound left lane will close from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, east of Best Road (milepost 55) for maintenance.
State Route 530
- Eastbound and westbound traffic will alternate from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily Monday through Thursday, April 27-30, from Fortner Road (milepost 53) and Christian Camp Road (milepost 55) for utility work.
Island County
State Route 20
- Police will control intersections from 6 to 7:45 a.m. Sunday, April 27, between Ducken Road (milepost 40) and Rosario Road (milepost 43) for the Whidbey Island Marathon.
Northern Snohomish County
State Route 9
- Northbound and southbound traffic will alternate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily Monday through Friday, April 27 to May 1, south of the Skagit County line (milepost 37) for maintenance.
- Northbound and southbound traffic will alternate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, north of Highland Drive in Arlington (milepost 29) for maintenance.
David Rasbach
WSDOT communications
david.rasbach@wsdot.wa.gov
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