WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — Drivers and residents should be aware that thousands of runners and their accompanying support vehicles will be following a course through western Whatcom County and can be expected to impact traffic beginning Friday, July 10, 2026. The course uses main arterials, side streets and passes through some residential neighborhoods.
Since 2007, relay teams participating in the Annual Northwest Passage Ragnar Relay have taken off from Blaine, continued through Ferndale and Bellingham while following a course that ends up on Whidbey Island.
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) issued an alert on July 1, 2026, that remained on July 7, 2026, warning motorists to expect runners I-5 and other Washington State Routes.
Ragnar Events LLC maps and runner instructions do place runners southbound through Whatcom County on the following Washington State Routes.
- a total of 5 miles of SR548 (Peace Portal Drive/Blaine Road/Grandview Road)
- crossing under I-5 on Northwest Drive
- on sidewalks along 7/10 of a mile of SR11 (Old Fairhaven Parkway)
- crossing over I-5 on N Lake Samish Drive
- crossing under I-5 at Nulle Road
Ragnar Events LLC maps and runner instructions are say they are expected to only be southbound and never on the shoulder of I-5 lanes.
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