 Oct. 2, 2026
 Southbound I-5 switched to a new bridge over Chuckanut Creek in September. Northbound I-5 will move off a temporary bypass road back to its usual alignment overnight Thursday, Oct. 8.
The new northbound Interstate 5 bridge over Chuckanut Creek is one step closer to opening with the concrete deck pour complete. Crews are now pouring the approach slabs and installing the barrier.
They are on track to reopen the northbound I-5 mainline lanes on Friday morning, Oct. 9.. Once the switch is complete, crews will remove the two-lane bypass road northbound traffic has used through most of the summer.
Crews are continuing to work on the Chuckanut Creek bridge on Old Samish Road. Crews are installing retaining walls and pouring the deck, approach slabs and barrier before reopening the county road in December.
Northbound I-5 switch
Beginning at 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, travelers should expect a series of overnight lane reductions and rolling slowdowns north of North Lake Samish Drive (exit 246) while crews remove temporary barriers, restripe lanes and complete the traffic shift. By 5 a.m., the switch to the new fish-passable structure should be complete.
The advisory speed limit through the work zone will remain in effect while crews continue construction in the area. Drivers are encouraged to slow down, stay alert and follow posted signs.
 Crews are making the final touches to landscaping along tributaries to Friday Creek, where new fish-passable structures were installed beneath I-5 last summer.
About 5 miles south of Chuckanut Creek, crews are making the final touches to landscaping along tributaries to Friday Creek under I-5 near Alger (exit 240).
Over the last few weeks, they have placed logs along the riverbed to slow river flow. They are now removing fish nets and continuing to plant trees and seeds and place compost and mulch. These improvements will help restore the channel by creating spawning areas for fish and increasing habitat complexity for other wildlife.
Work at the Chuckanut Creek and tributaries to Friday Creek sites is part of a project that is removing and replacing 17 outdated culverts near Lake Samish.
Continue to expect northbound and southbound I-5 to be reduced to a single lane between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. nightly Sunday, Oct. 4, through Friday morning, Oct. 9.
 Crews made repairs to the SR 9 bridge over Klein ditch last week. The bridge reopened to northbound and southbound traffic on Sunday, Sept. 27.
Last week’s soaking rain forced us to delay paving a couple of days, but we were able to finish that work and fully reopen the State Route 9 bridge over Klein Ditch to both directions of traffic Sunday afternoon, Sept. 27.
Before the rain moved in, crews removed and replaced damaged portions of the bridge’s timber decking and installed a new protective barrier and waterproof membrane.
The work was part of our paving project in Whatcom County that is nearing completion. Crews still need to pave the approaches to a handful of intersections and install striping and rumble strips throughout the project limits. People should expect alternating traffic between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily Monday through Thursday, Oct. 5-8, while we finish this work in the following locations:
- SR 9 from Park Road to Doran Road (mileposts 68 to 69) near the Skagit County line
- SR 9 from Nugents Corner to South Pass Road (mileposts 84 to 90) between Deming and Nooksack
- SR 9 from Nooksack Road/SR 546 to Bowen Street (mileposts 94 to 97) south of Sumas
- SR 547 from Saar Creek to the Sumas River (mileposts 9 to 10) east of Sumas
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.
|
Whatcom County
Interstate 5
- Expect rolling slowdowns on northbound and southbound I-5 from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. nightly Sunday, Oct. 4, through Tuesday morning, Oct. 6, near Lakeway Drive (milepost 253) for utility work.
State Route 9
- Northbound and southbound traffic will alternate from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily Wednesday, Oct. 7, through Friday, Oct. 9, near Rothenbuhler Road (milepost 71-72) for utility work.
- Northbound and southbound traffic will alternate from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, south of George Road (milepost 86) for utility work.
State Route 542
- Eastbound and westbound traffic will alternate from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily Monday, Oct. 5, through Friday, Oct. 9, between Finsrud Road and James Road (mileposts 11-17) for utility work.
- Expect intermittent holds of eastbound and westbound traffic from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, between Welcome and Hatchery Road (milepost 19 to 21) for permitted work.
State Route 548
- Eastbound and westbound traffic will close from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, between Martin Street and G Street for the 2026 Seaside Bash.
Skagit County
State Route 20
- Expect intermittent traffic holds of eastbound and westbound traffic from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, between Sauk Store Road and Rockport (mileposts 94 to 97) for permitted work.
Island County
State Route 20
- Eastbound and westbound traffic will alternate from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly Sunday, Oct. 4, through Thursday morning, Oct. 8, from Monroe Landing Road to Southwest Eagle Vista Avenue (mileposts 29-30) for utility work.
- Eastbound and westbound traffic will alternate from 10 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. nightly Monday, Oct. 5, through Friday morning, Oct. 9, near Broadway Street (milepost 22) for utility work.
Northern Snohomish County
Interstate 5
- The left lane of northbound I-5 and the right lane of southbound I-5 will close from 6 p.m. to noon nightly Monday, Oct. 5, through Wednesday morning, Oct. 7, south of SR 532/Stanwood (mileposts 210-213) for highway improvements as part of a fish passage project.
State Route 530
- Eastbound and westbound traffic will alternate from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly Monday, Oct. 5, through Thursday morning, Oct. 8, from Boulder River to 387th Avenue Northeast (mileposts 40-44) for utility work.
- Eastbound and westbound traffic will alternate from 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, to 5 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9, from 363rd Avenue Northeast to Darrington (mileposts 42 to 48) for utility work.
David Rasbach
WSDOT communications
david.rasbach@wsdot.wa.gov
|
