WSDOT recommends these routes for getting around I-5 landslide near Bellingham
A March 19 landside has left both lanes of northbound Interstate 5 south of Bellingham closed, with no current estimate of a reopening date. Drivers are being diverted off the freeway at North Lake Samish Road, exit 246. Southbound I-5 remains open.
“Travelers also should expect longer delays on I-5. Flaggers will control the intersection of the northbound I-5 off-ramp and North Lake Samish Road to prioritize traffic exiting northbound I-5 during daylight hours and improve traffic flow when volumes are heaviest. WSDOT encourages people to plan ahead,” The Washington Department of Transportation website reads.
The area is known for slides, due to the geology of the area, according to WSDOT. The site is considered an active slide zone, and WSDOT is advising people not to attempt to fly drones over the area.
The unexpected event has left commuters in a bind, and in a need of finding an alternate route.
“We recommend people consider using [State Route] 9 and [State Route] 11/Chuckanut Drive as alternate routes,” WSDOT Communicator David Rasbach said in an email to The Bellingham Herald.
State Route 9 is a historic highway. Drivers may recognize it as the highway that features the Nooksack River Bridge.
“For semi drivers, [State Route] 11 and local roads are not suitable for freight traffic. Our freight detour uses [State Route] 9 and [State Route] 542,” Rasbach said. “We have portable electronic message signs in Skagit County reminding freight and other travelers about this.”
Users on the r/Bellingham subreddit are recommending Chuckanut Drive (State Route 11) as an alternate route for non-freight traffic.
Canadian Border alternate route
To get across the border, Rasbach advised using State Route 9, which crosses the border at Sumas. As of March 24, noon wait times can range from 10 to 40 minutes.
Alternatively, non-freight drivers can also use State Route 539 north of Lynden to cross the border. As of March 24, at noon wait times are roughly five minutes.
According to Rasbach, freight traffic can use State Route 542 to return from the Canada and can also use the border crossings in Blaine. As of March 24, a noon wait time can range from 15 to 30 minutes.
This story was originally published March 24, 2026 at 1:29 PM with the headline "WSDOT recommends these routes for getting around I-5 landslide near Bellingham."