Bellingham Scoop: I-5 Northbound Reopens This Week

Today's Weather: Rain all day, high near 51 with south winds 9-14 mph and gusts up to 29 mph. Eastern Whatcom County is under a winter storm warning through 11 p.m. tonight. Full forecast at National Weather Service Bellingham.

Happy Tuesday, Bellingham. It is April 14 and we have some genuinely big news this morning. Coffee first. Then read on.

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Roads + Transit

Northbound I-5 Near Bellingham Scheduled to Reopen Thursday

Northbound I-5 Near Bellingham Scheduled to Reopen Thursday Morning

The wait is almost over. The Washington State Department of Transportation announced that all northbound lanes of Interstate 5 between North Lake Samish and Nulle Road are scheduled to reopen by 5 a.m. on Thursday, April 16, pending final clearance from geotechnical engineers.

The March 19 landslide dumped thousands of cubic yards of debris onto that stretch of freeway south of Bellingham, shutting it down entirely and pushing commuters and freight trucks onto Chuckanut Drive and State Route 11 for nearly four weeks. Crews have been working around the clock ever since.

Over the weekend, workers dislodged a large, loose slab on the west end of the slide zone. The final step is anchoring the slope in three locations before engineers can sign off. Thursday's opening remains conditional on that clearance.

If you are planning an early Thursday commute north, check the full reopening update here and monitor WSDOT.wa.gov for confirmed status before you leave.

Safety Alert

Winter Storm Warning Active for Eastern Whatcom County + Federal Disaster Relief Coming

Winter Storm Warning in Effect Through Tonight

Two significant updates from Whatcom County Emergency Management this morning. First, a winter storm warning is in effect for eastern Whatcom County from 11 a.m. today through 11 p.m. tonight. The Emergency Operations Center is not activated, but conditions in the mountains are expected to be significant. If you are heading into the passes today, plan accordingly.

On the recovery front, Washington State is receiving a federal disaster declaration for the December 2025 floods. That declaration opens pathways to FEMA individual assistance and public assistance grants for residents and local governments affected by last winter's damage. Details on available programs will come through WhatcomReady and county channels as they are confirmed.

Sign up for local emergency alerts and track conditions at the full briefing summary or the Whatcom County Division of Emergency Management.

Community

Bellingham and Whatcom County Honor Their 911 Dispatchers This Week

This week is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, and local agencies are taking a moment to publicly thank the people behind the phones at Whatcom County 911 and the Bellingham Fire Department communications center.

BPD Chief Rebecca Mertzig said it well: "Your calm professionalism, quick decision-making, and unwavering dedication form the backbone of public safety in Bellingham and throughout our region. You are the steady voices our community depends on during some of life's most difficult moments."

The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office called them "the heroes you don't always see but always hear." These teams work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year as the first point of contact when something goes wrong. Read the full tribute here.

Public Works

Whatcom County's Annual Road Shoulder Herbicide Program Is Underway

Annual Roadside Herbicide Treatments Starting on County Roads

Whatcom County Public Works has kicked off its annual Road Shoulder Herbicide Program, treating roughly 250 miles of county roads each spring to manage roadside vegetation that causes drainage problems and wears down pavement edges faster.

A minimum 12-inch strip along lawns and yard areas that border county right-of-way may be treated. Property owners who prefer to opt out can sign an agreement at the Whatcom County Public Works office at 901 West Smith Road in Bellingham, open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Full program details are available at the county summary here.

Education

WWU Technology Director John Farquhar Retiring After 27 Years

A 27-Year Run at Western Washington University Comes to a Close

John Farquhar, who has run Western Washington University's Academic Technology and User Services department for nearly three decades, will retire on April 30. His ATUS tenure covered almost every major technology shift at the university, from early learning management systems to today's campus-wide digital infrastructure for roughly 16,000 students.

WWU has not yet named a successor. The full university announcement is available through WWU News.

Civic

Ferndale City Council Committee Meeting This Week

Ferndale City Council Committee Meeting This Week

The City of Ferndale has a City Council Committee meeting on the schedule this week. Ferndale City Hall is at 2095 Main Street. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, phone 360-384-4302. Agenda and meeting details here.

Small Business Spotlight

Spring in Bellingham: A Good Time to Shop Small

Spring has arrived in Bellingham. The days are getting longer, the tulip fields are going strong up in the Skagit Valley, and this is genuinely one of the best times of year to wander into a local shop you have been meaning to try.

The Bellingham Farmers Market spring season is kicking off at the Railroad Track District. Vendors, dates, and full schedule at bellinghamfarmers.org. Worth marking your calendar now.

For a running directory of local businesses, new openings, and community events, the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce is a good place to start.

The Upcoming Week

That is your Tuesday update. Stay dry out there, give a nod to your nearest 911 dispatcher this week, and keep an eye on I-5 conditions Thursday morning. See you Wednesday, Bellingham.