WSDOT says I-5 construction near Alger remains on schedule to reopen all lanes by Saturday after crews rebuilt the roadbed and began repaving. (Photo: WSDOT)
ALGER, Wash. — Interstate 5 construction near Alger remains on schedule to wrap up Saturday after crews rebuilt the roadbed and began repaving the southbound lanes.
Northbound and southbound I-5 remain reduced to one lane each near Lake Samish Road at exit 240. Drivers should continue to expect delays and use both lanes until reaching the merge point.
“We’re on track to reopen all northbound and southbound lanes by Saturday.”
Washington State Department of Transportation, Monday update
Crews Begin Repaving Southbound I-5
Crews rebuilt the roadbed over the weekend above a new fish passage structure. They then began repaving the southbound lanes.
For now, southbound traffic continues to cross onto the northbound side of the interstate. The temporary configuration allows one lane of traffic to travel in each direction.
The speed limit remains 60 mph through the work zone. In addition, the southbound I-5 off-ramp to Lake Samish Road remains closed.
WSDOT urged drivers to expect delays, consider alternate routes and zipper merge where the highway narrows. Under the zipper merge method, drivers use both open lanes before taking turns at the merge point.
Closure Supports New Fish Passage
The 15-day southbound closure allows crews to replace an outdated culvert beneath I-5. The new structure carries an unnamed tributary to Friday Creek near milepost 241.
Once complete, the crossing will give salmon, steelhead and bull trout better access to upstream habitat. Its wider design also creates a more natural stream channel beneath the interstate.
Crews will add logs, boulders and other natural features to slow the water and improve habitat. Those features also help restore stream conditions disrupted when crews built the original culvert.
WSDOT completed a separate 12-day closure of northbound I-5 in May. During that phase, both directions used the southbound side while crews installed the lower portion of the new crossing.
More Construction Planned Along I-5
The work forms part of a $159.6 million project replacing four culverts in Whatcom and Skagit counties. Construction began in spring 2025 and will continue through winter 2028.
The project includes crossings connected to Friday Creek, Lake Creek and Chuckanut Creek. Crews have mostly completed work at the Lake Creek crossing south of the North Lake Samish interchange.
WSDOT also plans to build a crossing beneath the Lake Samish Road interchange. That phase will require a 40-day road closure.
Construction at Chuckanut Creek is expected to begin this summer. Drivers will use temporary bypass roads while crews build new I-5 bridges. Old Samish Road will also close temporarily during that work.
Another phase will begin near the North Lake Samish interchange in 2027. Drivers can expect nighttime lane closures while crews construct temporary bypass roads.
The broader project responds to a federal court order requiring Washington to remove state-owned culverts that block fish habitat.
PREVIOUSLY: I-5 Lane Reductions Continue Near Alger as WSDOT Advances Salmon Restoration Project
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