FERNDALE, Wash. — A public hearing has been scheduled during the regular meeting of the Whatcom County Council on Tuesday, August 8th, to receive public comment on a proposed temporary closure of W Smith Road. An ordinance is required to address a request by the City of Ferndale to close the road to perform work on a pump station.
The City of Ferndale is decommissioning a sewer pump station located about 500 feet outside city limits in the area of Bel West Drive and W Smith Road. This work will require demolition and removal of existing equipment in addition to installing about 600 feet of a new gravity sewer main pipe at a depth of 12 to 14 feet. Information provided from nearby wells indicates significant water removal from trenches will be required at these depths.
The work involves utilities located under the W Smith Road roadway.
If the county ordinance is approved, the project and closure are expected to occur in September and October while groundwater levels are low. The work is estimated to take about 40 days to complete.
Members of the public interested in participating in the public hearing can attend the council meeting, scheduled for 6pm on August 8th inside the council chambers at 311 Grand Avenue in Bellingham or remotely via Zoom. Comments can also be shared with councilmembers prior to the meeting by emailing council@co.whatcom.wa.us.