 Aug. 6, 2026
 North Cascades Highway travelers will soon see a permanent speed limit reduction along a mile-long stretch of State Route 20 through Lyman in Skagit County.
The speed limit will be reduced from 55 mph to 50 mph in both directions of SR 20 through Lyman between mileposts 73.63 and 74.73. The decision to reduce the speed limit was made in response to community safety concerns, a review of speed and collision data, and coordination with the town of Lyman.
Maintenance crews were expected to replace the existing speed limit signs with new signs the week of Monday, Aug. 3. The new 50 mph speed limit is enforceable as soon as the signs are installed.
People traveling through the area can do their part to improve safety by following the speed limit, obeying posted signs and staying focused and sober while driving.
 Nightly alternating traffic continues on SR 534 between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. This continues to grind down and replace existing pavement, with about 3 miles remaining on westbound SR 534 east of I-5. Crews are placing a new layer of asphalt to create a smoother ride and help extend the highway’s service life.
An additional night of work has been added from 7 p.m. Friday Aug. 7, to 5 a.m. Saturday Aug. 8, so crews can complete their planned paving work this week. During the lane reductions, flaggers and pilot vehicles will alternate eastbound and westbound traffic through the area where crews are working. Expect delays, slow down and watch for workers and machinery in the highway.
Once the paving finishes and the new asphalt has cured, we’ll return to install permanent lane makings and wrap up construction.
Overnight lane and ramp closures along multiple state highways in Whatcom County began Tuesday night, Aug. 4, for crack sealing and pavement repair.
Flaggers will alternate traffic through single lane closures on state highways. Signed detours will guide people around ramp closures along I-5.
This work is weather dependent, and overnight closures could be rescheduled due to rain.
Closure details
The following closures start as early as 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. the next morning:
Thursday night, Aug. 6
- Northbound I-5 off-ramp to Iowa Street in Bellingham
- Southbound I-5 on-ramp from Ohio Street in Bellingham
- One lane of SR 544/East Pole Road between SR 539/Guide Meridian and SR 9 near Everson
Monday night, Aug. 10
- One lane of SR 542/Mount Baker Highway between Markel Road and Casey Road near Maple Falls
This work is part of a that will extend the life of the roadway and improve the driving surface in more than 70 locations in King, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties.
 SR 9 is reduced to a single lane near Kalloch Road (milepost 59) with a signal alternating northbound and southbound traffic through a bypass road for fish passage construction work.
The continuous lane reduction began Monday, Aug. 3, and will be in place through mid-September while crews remove a culvert that blocks fish traveling upstream then install a new fish-passable structure on Hansen Creek. Expect delays on SR 9 while traffic alternates through the automated signal north of Sedro-Woolley.
A seven-day full closure of SR 9 will begin Wednesday, Aug. 12, east of Mount Vernon near SR 9 and Mount Vernon Big Lake Road (milepost 49) to correct a second fish passage as part of this project. Northbound and southbound SR 9 traffic can follow a signed detour using SR 534, I-5 and SR 538/College Way during that closure. Crews will install a new 20-foot box culvert during the full closure that will allow for fish migration beneath SR 9.
 We’ve reached two big milestones in recent weeks on our fish passage project along tributaries to Friday Creek on I-5 near Alger/Lake Samish Road (milepost 241). These include the restoration of two-lane travel on I-5 and the reopening of the southbound I-5 off-ramp to Alger/Lake Samish Road.
Next up, on Aug. 14, is the planned reopening of Lake Samish Road west of I-5. This section remains closed for the installation of a fish-passable structure beneath the road.
Meanwhile, at our Chuckanut Creek site south of Bellingham (milepost 247), both northbound and southbound I-5 will continue to use temporary two-lane bypass roads through October for the installation of a fish passable structure.
We ask you to slow down, give other vehicles extra room and avoid distractions when driving through the work zone while this work continues.
Pedestrians, cyclists and other sidewalk users should expect intermittent closures of the sidewalk on the SR 536 Skagit River Bridge while crews begin blasting old paint and rust off of the structure. An on-call Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant shuttle will be available during these sidewalk closures.
Only westbound traffic and emergency vehicles can cross the Skagit River bridge. The current eastbound closure over the Skagit River bridge will remain in place until construction finishes in early 2027. The temporary traffic signals will only change for emergency vehicles. Westbound drivers should be attentive to the temporary traffic signal before crossing the bridge. The signal may turn red for westbound drivers when emergency vehicles need to cross the bridge. The signals will not change for eastbound passenger or freight vehicles, which must detour using eastbound SR 20 and southbound I-5.
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Paving season continues as our maintenance crews plan to tackle SR 20 and SR 11, Sunday, Aug. 9, through Wednesday morning, Aug. 12.
What to expect
- From 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, to 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, traffic will alternate with flaggers on SR 20 near North Section Road (milepost 61) in Burlington
- Nightly from 8:30 p.m. to 5 a.m., starting Monday, Aug. 10, to Wednesday morning, Aug. 12, traffic will alternate with flaggers on SR 20 near Vista View Drive (milepost 62) just east of Burlington
- From 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, traffic will alternate with flaggers on SR 11 just south of Larrabee State Park (milepost 13)
- From noon to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, traffic will alternate with flaggers on SR 11 near Governor’s Rock (milepost 12)
As always, please slow down and use caution in the work zone.
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People can expect to alternate traffic on SR 9 in Everson daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 9, through Wednesday, Aug. 12, between Backacre Road and Massey Road (mileposts 84-89) for a paving project.
Northbound and southbound SR 9 will alternate around the clock on a bridge over Klein Creek (milepost 87) south of Hopewell Road until further notice to inspect the bridge deck.
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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
Interstate 5
- The right lane of northbound I-5 near Smith Road will close from 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10, to 3 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, for sensor repair work.
State Route 9
- Northbound and southbound SR 9 will alternate daily from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, beginning Aug. 10, between Wickersham Road and Potter Road for vegetation work.
State Route 544
- Eastbound and westbound SR 544 remain closed around the clock until Aug. 28 from Robinson Street to Everson Road for a city of Everson project.
Skagit County
State Route 9
- A temporary traffic signal will continue to alternate northbound and southbound traffic over Lake Creek Bridge (milepost 43) until further notice.
- Traffic will alternate near Lake Cavanaugh Road nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, to Friday morning, Aug. 14 for utility work.
Island County
State Route 20
- Eastbound and westbound traffic will alternate nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, through Friday morning, Aug. 14, between Monroe Landing Road and Eagle Vista Drive for utility work.
State Route 525
- Northbound and southbound traffic will alternate from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily Monday, Aug. 10, through Thursday, Aug. 13, between Houston Road and Admirals Drive (milepost 30) for utility work.
Elizabeth Mount
WSDOT communications
elizabeth.mount@wsdot.wa.gov
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