Crews will close lanes at night and on weekends to make repairs on I-5 in Bellingham, Wash., starting April 1.


"I-5's capacity during construction will literally be cut in half, and there are no easily accessible alternate routes to avoid the work," said Engineering Manager Marco Foster.

The construction will repair broken panels, smooth bridge transitions and pave rough ramps on I-5 from Samish Way to Sunset Drive.

Night lane closures start April 1, and weekend-long lane closures will follow soon after. For the first two weeks in April, crews primarily will close lanes from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The first weekend-long closure is scheduled for April 11 through April 14. I-5 will be reduced to one lane in each direction for three miles. Lanes will close at 10 p.m. Friday and reopen at 6 a.m. Monday.

The weekend work could take up to four weekends to complete and is weather dependent. The closures could be delayed if the weather forecast calls for rain.

The best times to travel I-5 during the weekend-long closures will be after 8 p.m. and before 8 a.m. WSDOT expects stop-and-go traffic the rest of the time on weekends.

For more information on the project, go to http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/36thStToSlaterRdRepairs/default.htm .