I-5 Lane Reductions Near Alger Continue Through May 22

By PNW DAILY STAFF · May 18, 2026 · PNW Daily

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Drivers traveling between Bellingham and Burlington continue to face delays on Interstate 5 near Alger as crews install a new fish-passable culvert near Lake Samish Road.

The lane reductions started May 10 and will continue through Friday, May 22, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. Traffic near exit 240 narrows to one lane in each direction while crews rebuild the roadway over the new structure.

WSDOT warned drivers before the project began that backups would likely increase during peak travel times.

Crews Begin Paving Work

WSDOT said May 18 that crews are completing electrical work and rebuilding the roadbed over the new culvert.

Crews plan to start paving Wednesday, May 20. WSDOT expects to reopen all lanes by 2 p.m. Friday, May 22.

The agency said crews finished installing the culvert and wing walls May 17. Workers then started filling around the new fish passage beneath northbound I-5 near Alger and Lake Samish Road.

Construction crews shifted northbound traffic onto a temporary crossover along the southbound side of I-5. Concrete barriers separate traffic through the work zone. Drivers must slow to 60 mph through the area.

Alger On-Ramp Remains Closed

The northbound Lake Samish Road and Alger on-ramp remains closed during construction.

Crews closed the ramp May 3 and expect to reopen it after 28 days. Drivers heading north must follow a signed detour to the Nulle Road on-ramp at exit 242.

Drivers can still exit into Alger during the closure.

More Lane Reductions Planned This Summer

WSDOT will pause major daytime lane reductions during the regional FIFA World Cup match period from June 12 through July 8. The agency wants to reduce travel impacts between Seattle and Vancouver during tournament traffic.

Crews will return later this summer to install another fish-passable structure beneath the southbound lanes of I-5.

That phase will again reduce northbound and southbound traffic to one lane in each direction for about 15 days. WSDOT has not announced exact July dates.

Project Restores Salmon Habitat

The project near Lake Samish Road will remove 12 barriers that block fish migration along tributaries connected to Friday Creek.

WSDOT said the work will restore access to about 4.2 miles of habitat for coho salmon, steelhead, resident trout and sea-run cutthroat.

The project also supports a statewide effort to replace culverts that block fish habitat in western Washington after a 2013 federal court injunction ordered the state to make repairs.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I-5 near Alger reopen to full traffic?

WSDOT expects to reopen all lanes by 2 p.m. Friday, May 22, 2026. Paving begins Wednesday, May 20. Until then, northbound and southbound I-5 near exit 240 remain reduced to one lane in each direction.

Is the Alger northbound on-ramp open?

No. The Lake Samish Road and Alger on-ramp to northbound I-5 closed May 3 for 28 days. Drivers heading north should use the signed detour to the Nulle Road on-ramp at exit 242. The off-ramp into Alger remains open.

Will there be more I-5 lane closures near Alger this summer?

Yes. After the current phase wraps May 22, crews will return in July to install a fish-passable structure under the southbound lanes. That phase will reduce I-5 to one lane each direction for about 15 days. WSDOT has not announced exact dates. No major daytime closures will occur during FIFA World Cup matches June 12 through July 8.

Why is WSDOT installing fish passages under I-5 near Lake Samish?

Old culverts beneath I-5 near Lake Samish Road block fish from migrating along Friday Creek tributaries. The new structures will restore about 4.2 miles of habitat for coho salmon, steelhead, resident trout and sea-run cutthroat. A 2013 federal court injunction requires Washington state to replace fish-blocking culverts throughout western Washington.