Each year Whatcom County Public Works selects roadways for preventative maintenance known as bituminous surface treatment, commonly known as chip sealing. Lummi Nation roadways are scheduled first, starting on June 22.
The following roads are scheduled for chip sealing June 22-25 – from 6am – 6pm. As with all construction projects, the schedule and list below may change due to weather or other factors.
- Bay View Drive
- Bay Place
- Bay Street
- Bay Shore Drive
- Boynton Road
- Cagey Road
- Emma Road
- Finkbonner Road
- Gooseberry Spur
- Harbor Lane
- Harbor Place
- Harden Road
- Kelbay Avenue
- Leeward Place
- Leeward Way
- Lena Road
- Mackenzie Road
- Northgate Road
- Robertson Road
- Ruth Road
- Shorewood Lane
- Sunset Way
- Southgate Road
- Smokehouse Road
Drivers should plan to use alternate routes during project work and expect delays. Speed limits will be lowered to 25mph in work zones, and the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office will have extra emphasis patrols to ensure safety.
Tips for drivers during chip seal work:
- Use alternate routes and plan for delays.
- Slow down to at least 25mph in work zones.
- Avoid distractions when driving through these areas.
- The chip sealing process means there may be lose gravel on the roadway. Leave plenty of room between your vehicle and the one in front of you to avoid flying rocks.
- Avoid parking alongside affected roadways. Lose gravel or chip sealant could damage vehicles left along roadways during construction.
This summer Public Works will chip seal approximately 65 miles of Whatcom County roads. Most areas are selected on a rotating 10-12 year cycle.
Lummi Island roadway work is expected to start around July 6. After island roadways are completed, crews will work on additional Lummi Nation roadways, then areas of Ferndale north of Slater Road.
This program has substantial benefits for local roadways and the drivers who use them, including:
- Improves safety and creates a highly skid-resistant surface.
- Saves money and is substantially less expensive than asphalt overlay.
- Extends the life of pavement.
- Waterproofs the surface.
- Prevents potholes and seals cracks, keeping water from seeping into the roadway structure.
Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to get updates on this and other projects every Friday. Visit the Maintenance and Operations Department webpage.