County council to host public hearing on westbound Drayton Harbor Road closure

Posted

Whatcom County Council will hold a public hearing at its 6 p.m. Tuesday, December 6 regular meeting for a temporary westbound road closure on Drayton Harbor Road that could last until summer 2024. The closure would require a five-mile detour for westbound drivers. 

During the severe storms and king tides in November 2021, a portion of Drayton Harbor Road, west of Shintaffer Road, experienced a block slope failure on the waterside, westbound lane. According to a November 29 press release, Whatcom County Public Works was initially hopeful to complete repairs in 2022, but determined more extensive repairs were needed after additional engineering evaluations.

These repairs will not be completed until summer 2024, the release says.

For safety, public works will establish a one-way traffic pattern on Drayton Harbor Road for eastbound travelers and a signed detour for westbound travelers that will begin around Friday, January 13, 2023, according to the release. The detour is five miles, connecting Harborview Road, Lincoln Road, Semiahmoo Parkway and Drayton Harbor Road, according to the detour map.

Whatcom County Council meetings are being held online and in council chambers, 311 Grand Avenue in Bellingham. For more information on participating, visit the county’s website at bit.ly/3VEQu5w.

Comments

2 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

  • djfmommy

    Why fix something that isn't broken? The current method with the stop signs and traffic moving one direction at a time is working. It would be a great waste of time and gasoline to institute a long detour for half of the traffic. We have been taking turns for over a year now without incident, as far as I know. The proposed detour will also greatly increase response times for emergency services, putting lives at risk. That does not sound safer to me!

    Friday, December 9, 2022 Report this

  • dwengland

    Has anyone thought about the County buying the property adjacent to the single lane, tearing down the buildings, and rerouting the road through that area? This would provide more immediate relief and provide additional distance from the eroding shoreline.

    Saturday, December 10, 2022 Report this


OUR PUBLICATIONS