Bell Road overpass project receives $9.5 million in funding for study, design phase

The city of Blaine was awarded $9.5 million to conduct a study and start the design process of its overpass project at the railroad crossing on Bell Road near its intersection with Peace Portal Drive.

“This is a major win for the city of Blaine,” city manager Michael Harmon said during the June 26 council meeting. “For all of our partners who live west of the intersection, this is a major public safety improvement.” 

The funding comes from U.S. Senator Patty Murray’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program in which Washington state secured nearly $133 million in infrastructure funding, according to a June 22 press release from Murray’s office. 

The $9.5 million will pay for 30 percent of design for the overpass project and Dakota Creek bridge replacement, but will not make the project shovel-ready, Harmon said. It also includes funding for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance process and right-of-way acquisition. 

The city applied for the grant in February with the help of BNSF Railway. BNSF also provides a federally mandated 5 percent contribution to the cost of the project.

Harmon said the total project cost is expected to be around $85 million. He thanked BNSF and city staff as well as the federal, state and local government workers who have helped with the project. 

“The only way for this project to come to fruition is through a partnership of state and federal support as well as BNSF and other local agencies,” Harmon said in a phone interview.

The Bell Road and Peace Portal Drive intersection, which connects downtown Blaine to Birch Bay and Semiahmoo and offers access to I-5, causes delays for many commuters during rush hour and when a train is present. The angled street approach to the four-way stop often leaves drivers confused as to who has the right-of-way.

An overpass, also referred to as the grade separation project, was deemed too costly in 2020, so the city pursued adding streetlights and additional traffic lanes. But BNSF officials monitoring the overpass project contacted the city in late 2022 to offer the city support.

Councilmember Mike Hill lauded councilmember Garth Baldwin, who Hill said had a connection that put the project into motion. 

“I told him that if he pulled this off, I would have a statue made of him,” councilmember Rhyan Lopez said.

U.S. representative Rick Larsen said in a statement he heard about the project more than 20 years ago when he was a freshman member of Congress. Larsen is lead Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and sent a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg in support of Blaine’s RAISE grant application.

“I am excited this critical project is advancing to improve safety and accessibility, reduce congestion, create more jobs and keep the regional economy moving,” Larsen said.

A total of $7.5 billion was secured for RAISE, which Murray established in 2009, through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“Replacing at-grade crossings is so important for improving safety and reducing traffic and pollution in communities across Washington state – this project is a big deal for the city of Blaine, and I’m thrilled I was able to help them secure this funding,” Murray said in a statement.