BLAINE, Wash. — The City of Blaine received $66.4 million in federal funding from the Federal Railroad Administration to construct a railroad overpass at Bell Road, according to an announcement by US Representative Rick Larsen.
The intersection of Bell Road (SR548) and Peace Portal Drive in south Blaine sees high volumes of traffic and the occasional BNSF and Amtrak trains do not help move the traffic. As a result, this location has been receiving funding in recent years from government sources towards building an overpass and reconfiguring adjacent roads.
According to the City of Blaine website, the yet to be finalized project is expected to include the following elements.
- build a dedicated multiuse path parallel to Bell Road
- build an overpass over the railroad tracks
- reconfiguring roads that pass through the intersection
- realign ramps to/from I-5
- replace the nearby Bell Road (SR548) bridge over Dakota Creek
The funding allocation comes through the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program, marking a major development following the city’s initiation of the multi-year planning process for the project. According to the US Department of Transportation’s project description, the City of Blaine will contribute 20% of the total cost, which may include funding from BNSF.
Design and permitting phases are expected to extend through 2027. Construction timelines have not yet been finalized.
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