5-day full road closure of Mt Baker Hwy scheduled

WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — The Washington State Department of Transportation announced today, Thursday, January 29, 2026, that emergency repairs to the Mount Baker Highway (SR542) requiring closing both directions of travel for 5 days has been schedule for next week.

Beginning at 6 a.m. Monday, Feb. 2, State Route 542 will close around the clock for five days east of Glacier for emergency repairs at O’Keefe Creek (milepost 43). The repairs are needed after floodwater and debris damaged a culvert and a section of highway during the atmospheric river weather event in December.

During the five-day closure, contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will repair the damaged culvert, rebuild the roadbed, pave, and install lane striping and guardrail. A temporary signal has alternated traffic through the damaged section since SR 542 reopened Dec. 21.

WSDOT has worked with the Mt. Baker Ski Area to schedule this necessary work. Though dry weather is needed for some of the repairs, the Mount Baker Highway is expected to reopen late Friday afternoon, Feb. 6.

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More work remains
Streambed work will continue along O’Keefe Creek after the five-day closure. People traveling through the area should expect alternating traffic while crews are working.

– Washington State Department of Transportation (January 29, 2026)

2 miles away is the site of another WSDOT emergency repair project on Mount Baker Highway east of Wells Creek Road. Today, WSDOT said crews are wrapping up the embankment and pavement repairs. Until those repairs are finished, motorists can expect a continuation of alternating traffic through that area.