 June 18, 2026
 A new roundabout will be built at the SR 546/Benson Road intersection during a six-day closure of the intersection scheduled for June 21-26.
We will close eastbound and westbound State Route 546/East Badger Road for six days to build a compact roundabout at Benson Road beginning Sunday evening, June 21, in Lynden. Northbound and southbound Benson Road also will close at the intersection for the duration of the closure.
From 9 p.m. Sunday, June 21, through 5 a.m. Friday, June 26, no traffic will be permitted through the intersection of SR 546 and Benson Road. Businesses and homes in the area, including the PeaceHealth Lynden Clinic and Kulshan Veterinary Hospital, will be accessible, but people may need to use different routes to reach their destinations during the closure.
Passenger vehicles can follow a signed detour using Main Street and Depot Road and can also take Pangborn Road north of the intersection. Freight traffic should detour using SR 539/Guide Meridian, SR 544/East Pole Road and SR 9/Nooksack Avenue during the six-day closure.
During the closure, crews will remove the existing intersection, prepare the area for the compact roundabout, build new curbs and traffic islands, pave, and place signs and temporary pavement markings. They’ll return in July after the pavement has cured to install permanent striping and finish construction
 Crews are installing rigging for a containment system that will protect the Skagit River while existing paint and debris is removed from the SR 536 bridge and it receives a new coat of paint.
With eastbound SR 536 now closed over the Skagit River/Division Street Bridge, our contractor crews began setting up rigging for the containment system. Much of the work is being done under the bridge’s driving surface, stringing wires between the bridge’s piers.
The containment system is an important first step, as it will protect the Skagit River from any debris or other materials as we strip the bridge down to bare steel and repaint it. You’ll likely see the system start to go up in July, before crews begin blasting off the existing layers of paint, debris, rust and bird droppings from the bridge.
Eastbound SR 536 will remain closed over the bridge until early 2027, making room for the containment system, equipment, and workers. Westbound vehicles will continue to have access across the bridge through most of the project. Emergency vehicles continue to have full access in both directions as needed.
Pedestrians, bicyclists and people using mobility devices also may use the bridge in both directions during most of the project. Eastbound bicyclists must dismount and walk their bikes across the bridge using the sidewalk. Westbound bicyclists may share the open lane with vehicles or walk their bikes across using the sidewalk.
As of Thursday morning, June 18, both directions of Interstate 5 are using temporary two-lane bypass roads near Chuckanut Creek (milepost 247) south of Bellingham. The shifts will allow our contractor crews to remove barriers to fish migration and install new fish passable structures beneath I-5 as part of a project correcting 17 barriers near Lake Samish.
Southbound I-5 switched Monday night, June 15, while northbound shifted Wednesday night, June 17.
The advisory speed limit along both directions of northbound I-5 is 50 mph in the area until September while the bypass roads are in use. Please slow down use caution through the area while our crews perform this important work.
Nighttime travelers should watch for northbound I-5 to reduce to a single lane through the work area from 8 p.m. to 5 p.m. nightly Monday, June 22, through Friday morning, June 26.
 SR 20/North Cascades Highway fully reopened on Sunday, June 14, after extensive repairs.
We fully reopened State Route 20/North Cascades Highway in both directions Sunday, June 14, after two emergency repair projects completed work. The June 14 opening matches 1974 for the latest opening of the scenic seasonal highway since we began keeping records in 1972.
Before Sunday, a section of SR 20 between Ross Dam Trailhead (milepost 134) and Porcupine Creek (milepost 156) remained closed after North Cascades Highway partially reopened from the east side April 30. This section of highway was severely damaged in several areas by washouts in December 2025.
Skagit County contractors Trimaxx Construction Inc. and Interwest Construction Inc. each worked seven days a week and completed their emergency contracts in fewer than the allowable working days. Combined, our contractors:
- Removed more than 2,500 cubic yards of debris from a rockslide location near Diablo Lake (milepost 131)
- Stabilized the slope by clearing loose rocks and debris and installing about 1,000 lineal feet of steel dowels into the rock face
- Rebuilt washed out embankment that supported the highway at three locations
- Repaired and repaved more than 1,000 feet of highway that was undermined or collapsed
- Restored about 2 miles of damaged or collapsed asphalt shoulder and about 3 miles of eroded ditch line
- Replaced more than 1,000 feet of damaged guardrail and concrete barrier
- Cleared and repaired 15 damaged or buried culverts
- Used mulch and seeding for erosion control on rebuilt slopes
- Installed pavement markings and striping
We are working with third-party navigation services to make sure that they are showing the North Cascades Highway open, but this process can take time. Your best source for travel information on state highways is our Travel Map.
SR 9 is reduced to a single lane around the clock south of Nooksack to inspect the bridge deck of a structure over Klein Ditch (milepost 87). Northbound and southbound traffic will alternate over the bridge south of Hopewell Road until further notice. Loads wider than 14 feet are not permitted during the lane reduction.
The work is part of our paving project improving three segments of SR 9 and one segment of SR 547 in Whatcom County. We’ll also begin work further south on SR 9 next week, with alternating traffic from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily between Park and Doran roads (mileposts 68 to 69).
There is no estimate when SR 9 will fully reopen. People should expect delays during busier travel times.
People are invited to learn more about the planned paving projects on SR 539/Guide Meridian and SR 546/Badger Road and provide feedback on their travel patterns and habits along these roads. An online questionnaire is open through Wednesday, July 1, to gather input on the needs for all users, including people walking, biking, rolling and accessing transit.
These projects are also subject to WSDOT’s Complete Streets requirements. Wherever feasible, WSDOT will work to incorporate active transportation facilities within the project delivery timelines and budget.
Both projects are scheduled for construction in 2028.
It's time to get cleaned up! From 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, June 24, expect alternating traffic over the SR 20 Deception Pass Bridge for bridge flushing.
Bridges can become dirty from dirt, pollution and chemicals, so we spray them with water to help remove debris, prevent erosion and ensure proper drainage.
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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Skagit County
Interstate 5
- Northbound and southbound I-5 will be reduced to a single lane from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly Monday, June 22, through Friday morning, June 26, near the Alger/Lake Samish Road (exit 240) for fish passage construction. The northbound I-5 off-ramp to Alger/Lake Samish Road also will close from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday and Wednesday, June 22 and 24.
Northern Snohomish County
State Route 530
- Eastbound and westbound traffic will alternate from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly Sunday, June 21, to Saturday morning, June 27, from the Boulder River to 387th Avenue Northeast/Swede Heaven Road (mileposts 40-44) for utility work.
David Rasbach
WSDOT communications
david.rasbach@wsdot.wa.gov
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