Birch Bay-Lynden Road still in repair, now to reopen mid- to late-February

Whatcom County Public Works contractors continue to rebuild the 40-foot section of Birch Bay-Lynden Road that washed away in the November floods when the California Creek culvert failed. According to a January 31 news flash, public works expects the closed section of the road, just east of Ham Road, to reopen mid- to late-February.

RAM Construction crews installed two 10-foot diameter culverts last week after waiting over a month for a weather window to be able to do in-water work. RAM is working to remove the temporary stream diversion and build up the embankment around the pipes.

Public works said utility work to replace the waterline damages when the road washed out will be coordinated in the coming weeks. The road was previously expected to reopen mid- to late-January, but public works now anticipates the road to reopen by the end of this month.

These are just temporary repairs; permanent repairs will follow at a later date, according to public works.

As for Drayton Harbor Road, crews are monitoring the roadway regularly and will keep it open as long as it is safe to do so. If the road needs to be closed, public works said an update will be provided.

One lane of the roadway is eroding into Drayton Harbor near the Shintaffer Road intersection. Public works said in December it was a low priority for final repairs because of low traffic volumes.