N Lake Samish bridge to reopen Friday, September 19th

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Officials with Whatcom County Public Works announced yesterday, Wednesday, September 17, 2025, that the N Lake Samish bridge is scheduled to reopen to all traffic at noon on Friday, September 19, 2025. The bridge was closed to all traffic since May 28, 2024, during a bridge replacement project.

Construction of the new N. Lake Samish Bridge is nearly complete. The bridge is scheduled to reopen to all traffic at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, September 19, following an 18-month closure for replacement.

Until reopening, drivers should continue to follow posted detour signs. Remaining work items include guardrail installation, topsoil and seeding, and general site cleanup. Crews anticipate completing this work by midday Friday.

We sincerely appreciate the patience of nearby residents, drivers & cyclists, as well as utilities such as the Samish Water District, first responders, including the South Whatcom Fire Authority, County partners like Whatcom County Parks & Recreation, and all others who contributed to the success of this significant project.

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The new bridge replaces the aging structure built in the 1950s and is designed to safely serve the community for decades to come. The project involved the demolition of the old bridge, the construction of new in-water drilled shafts, and the installation of a modern bridge deck with updated safety features.

– Whatcom County Public Works (September 17, 2025)

Samish Park, located at the north end of the bridge, was also closed during project. It was used as a staging area for project materials and equipment. The park is expected to remain closed until “sometime toward the end of the year” while Whatcom County Parks & Recreation completes restoration and repair work.

During a routine safety inspection, Whatcom County crews found increased amounts of rot in the wood of the bridge superstructure over the water. According to the Whatcom County website, “Without some immediate solution the bridge would have to be closed to heavy traffic including school buses and fire district vehicles.” The nearly $10 million bridge replacement project required closing the bridge to all traffic for over a year.