I-5 is closed south of Bellingham at Lake Samish Road as crews stabilize a landslide. Detours remain in place. No reopening time yet. (WSDOT)
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Northbound Interstate 5 remains closed south of Bellingham near North Lake Samish Road as crews continue stabilizing a landslide that has disrupted a key regional corridor.
According to Washington State Department of Transportation, crews are dealing with a massive volume of material blocking the roadway.
“This is more than clearing debris,” WSDOT said Thursday. “It is complex, specialized work and safety is at the core of every decision.”
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WSDOT estimates between 2,000 and 3,000 cubic yards of debris cover northbound I-5 at the slide site. For context, a typical WSDOT dump truck carries about 16 cubic yards per load.
That means crews must move the equivalent of roughly 125 to nearly 190 truckloads of material before fully clearing the roadway.
Geotechnical engineers have been on site since shortly after the slide, working to understand what’s happening on the slope, not just what came down on Thursday, but what could still come down.
“WSDOT executed an emergency contract on Saturday, March 21, selecting Interwest Construction, Inc. as the contractor to perform the work needed to reopen the freeway,” WSDOT said. “As a result, cleanup and stabilization will take time, especially as crews continue scaling the slope and preparing for drilling.”
Crews Shift Toward Stabilization Before Drilling
According to Washington State Department of Transportation, crews are removing loose debris and repositioning heavy rock across the slope.
This work is critical because it reduces the risk of additional slide activity. Next, crews will begin drilling into the hillside to secure the slope and prevent future failures.
However, officials have not provided a reopening timeline.
Detours Continue As Traffic Reroutes
Meanwhile, northbound I-5 traffic continues to exit at North Lake Samish Road (Exit 246).
Freight traffic must follow a longer regional detour:
State Route 20
State Route 9
State Route 542
As a result, drivers should expect delays, especially during peak hours. In addition, detour routes are seeing heavier traffic than normal.
Closure Impacts Regional Travel And Trade
The closure continues to affect commuters, freight movement, and cross-border travel across Whatcom County.
This stretch of I-5 serves as a critical link between Skagit County, Bellingham, and the Canadian border. Therefore, disruptions here ripple across the regional economy.
For now, officials urge drivers to plan ahead, allow extra time, and check for updates before traveling.
What Drivers Need To Know
Where is I-5 closed? Northbound I-5 is closed south of Bellingham at North Lake Samish Road (Exit 246).
When will it reopen? Officials have not announced a reopening timeline as crews continue stabilization and prepare for drilling.
PNW Daily brings you this traffic report is part of the ongoing crash report series sponsored by CrashLaw.NET. If you’ve been seriously injured, give Ziad Youssef and the team a call today at (360) 255-5046.
