WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) issued a statement about 7:15pm on Friday, March 20, 2026, regarding the status of the northbound lanes of I-5, closed since 9:30pm Thursday.
7:15PM: NB I-5 will remain closed Fri night (3/20) south of Bellingham due to slides Thurs. Our geotechs will resume assessing the slope Sat morning (3/21).
NB traffic will continue to divert at N Lake Samish Rd (exit 246). Local roads are not suitable for freight traffic.
Both northbound lanes of I-5 have been closed between the N Lake Samish Drive and Old Fairhaven Parkway interchanges due to slides that occurred last night.
Click for more information
Click for more information
An earlier statement today from WSDOT described the slide area as “a doozy.”
This one’s a doozy, as active movement on the slope is preventing crews from safely beginning cleanup. A large rock, bigger than a bus (and bigger than a small boulder), has already fallen 60–80 feet and remains unstable and unsupported.
NB I-5 will likely remain closed overnight. Alternate routes are available via SR 9 and SR 11, but SR 11 and local roads are not suitable for freight.
We know this is frustrating, but cleanup isn’t just a matter of loading debris into trucks. Our crews have to be precise and methodical to ensure it’s done safely.
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