Stop signs and slower speeds are coming to a Birch Bay intersection

The intersection at Bay and Jackson roads, the site of at least three collisions since 2010, should soon get safer.

Whatcom County Council unanimously passed a package of ordinances aimed at slowing traffic near the crossroads east of Birch Bay State Park at its February 23 council meeting.

The intersection, which is currently a two-way stop, will become a four-way stop with reduced entry speeds as soon as new stop signs and speed limit signs go up. They should be installed in about three weeks, said county engineer Joe Rutan.

People living near the intersection recommended the changes to county council, councilmember Barbara Brenner said at the meeting. Brenner was surprised at how dangerous the intersection was after visiting it.

“We saw some cars speed through without stopping,” she said. “It’s so dangerous. I’m glad public works moved this along so fast.”

All four legs of the intersection will be 25 mph speed zones. South of the intersection on Jackson Road, the speed limit will increase to 40 mph 500 feet from the intersection. For vehicles traveling east from the intersection on Bay Road, the speed limit will increase to 35 mph after 500 feet.

Currently, traffic on Jackson Road doesn’t stop at the intersection and the 35- and 40-mph speed limits on Bay and Jackson roads continue all the way to the intersection.

No one spoke during a public hearing on the topic at the February 23 meeting.