On Interstate-5 near Portal Way is a danger spot along the 10-mile corridor that sees hundreds of crashes each year.
FERNDALE — Interstate 5 (I‑5) is the backbone of Washington State’s north-south travel corridor, connecting Seattle to the Canadian border. But a short stretch between Lakeway Drive in Bellingham and Main Street in Ferndale has earned a troubling reputation as one of the deadliest highway segments in the state.
Sponsor Message: This Crash Report is sponsored by CrashLaw.NET, a legal resource for crash victims in Whatcom County. Learn more at CrashLaw.NET.
This stretch has seen over 200 crashes in 2024 alone, averaging 23 crashes per month. Between 2019 and 2023, it recorded 9 fatal crashes resulting in 10 deaths, placing it among the top 10 most dangerous 10-mile road segments in Washington.
Why This Stretch of I‑5 Is So Dangerous
Traffic safety experts point to several factors that make the Ferndale/Bellingham segment particularly hazardous:
Ramp Backups: Vehicles queue on off-ramps and often spill back onto I‑5 lanes, causing sudden slowdowns.
Closely Spaced Interchanges: Short merge distances reduce reaction time for drivers, increasing crash likelihood.
Speed and Traffic Variance: High-speed freeway traffic interacts with slow-moving vehicles entering and exiting, creating conflict points.
Commercial and Border Traffic: Heavy truck and cross-border traffic adds congestion and increases crash risk.
Local drivers have long reported congestion and sudden backups, especially near Iowa, Portal Way, and Main Street ramps, a combination that repeatedly contributes to accidents.
Washington’s Top 10 Most Dangerous Road Segments
According to statewide crash data, several road segments consistently rank among the deadliest in Washington, based on fatal crash counts from 2019 to 2023:
Rank
Road Segment
Fatal Crashes
Deaths
1
I‑5 South 38th St – SR‑18 (Tacoma)
22
25
2
I‑5 S Dearborn St – NE 145th St (Seattle)
20
20
3
I‑5 S 288th – Interurban Ave S (SeaTac)
18
21
4
I‑5 Trosper Rd SW – Meridian Rd NE (Olympia)
11
12
5
I‑5 Lowell Rd – 88th St NE (Everett/Marysville)
11
12
6
I‑5 Lakeway Dr – Main St (Bellingham/Ferndale)
9
10
7–10
Other dangerous segments include SR‑99 (Aurora Ave) in Seattle, SR‑20, and SR‑7
Various
Various
This shows that I‑5 through Bellingham and Ferndale is a high-risk corridor, even when compared to major urban highways and long rural stretches.
I‑5 Compared to City Streets and Statewide Roads
Bellingham city streets have seen a decline in total crashes and fatalities, making city roads safer than the interstate corridor.
Statewide trends show elevated traffic deaths, with 731–810 fatalities per year in recent years.
This makes the Ferndale/Bellingham stretch disproportionately dangerous, given its short length and high traffic volume.
UPDATE 4 915AM: NB I-5 remains closed just north of Iowa St. in @CityofBhamWA as crews continue working to clear debris from an earlier slide. Crews estimate about 2000 cubic yards of debris spilled across lanes of I-5. NO ETA for reopening. Use alt routes. https://t.co/1x5ew91zN1pic.twitter.com/tKiw4jgNWz
High-volume traffic on interstates and state routes
Complex interchange patterns in urban and suburban areas
Even as some road safety initiatives have reduced crash frequency in city streets, interstates like I‑5 remain a top concern due to the frequency of fatal collisions per mile and the volume of high-speed traffic.
The stretch of I‑5 through Bellingham and Ferndale is more than just a congestion hotspot, it’s one of Washington State’s deadliest highway segments and while it sounds like hyperbole, the numbers indicate otherwise.
Drivers traveling this corridor face ramp backups, short merges, high-speed traffic, and heavy commercial vehicles, all contributing to a high rate of crashes and fatalities. Awareness and careful driving are essential for anyone navigating this section of the interstate.
2 thoughts on “Highway of Death: I‑5 Through Ferndale & Bellingham Among Washington’s Deadliest Roads”