Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Landslide closes northbound I-5 in Bellingham and a look at the work it takes to reopen the highway

By RB McKeon and David Rasbach

Landslide blocks all northbound lanes of I-5 near Bellingham

Aerial view of a landslide covering northbound Interstate 5 near Bellingham, with large rocks, soil and trees across the roadway and a steep, forested slope above.
A landslide has closed all lanes of northbound I-5 near Bellingham on, with large rocks, soil and trees across the roadway and an unstable slope.

Around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, two landslides came down onto northbound I-5 near milepost 248, closing all northbound lanes between North Lake Samish Road (milepost 246) and Fairhaven Parkway (milepost 251). The slide brought about 2,000 cubic yards of rock, soil and trees onto the roadway.

Some of the rocks are the size of pickup trucks and several are larger than a metro-bus, tumbling from 60 to 80-feet above and are now unstable and unsupported. The debris stretches about 250-feet along the highway and is up to 65-feet tall in places.

What WSDOT is doing

Heavy machinery removes large rocks from a landslide along northbound Interstate 5 with a steep, forested debris visible beside the roadway.
Heavy machinery used to break apart large rocks along northbound I-5 near Bellingham as crews begin clearing debris from the landslide area.

This is more than clearing debris. It is complex, specialized work and safety is at the core of every decision.

Geotechnical engineers have been on site since shortly after the slide, working to understand what’s happening on the slope, not just what came down on Thursday, but what could still come down.

WSDOT executed an emergency contract on Saturday, March 21, selecting Interwest Construction, Inc. as the contractor to perform the work needed to reopen the freeway.

Here’s what that work looks like:

Assessing the slope: Engineers are evaluating conditions above and behind the visible rock face, including cracks that can’t be seen from the roadway.

Clearing what’s safe: Crews are removing some debris from the bottom of the slide and breaking apart larger rocks so they can be hauled away.

Scaling the slope: Specialty crews using hand tools and compressed air are beginning to remove loose rock from the hillside, working from the top down to reduce risk.

Stabilizing the slope: Crews will shift between scaling and rock bolting – the process of drilling deep into the rock face and securing it to help prevent additional movement.

In some areas, the debris is actually helping to hold unstable rock in place. Removing it too soon could trigger another slide.

Crews are working seven days a week, but some of this work can only happen during daylight hours and under certain weather conditions.

We are moving as quickly and safely as we can to return the freeway to normal operations.

Why is the road still closed?

We know one of the biggest questions is: Why can’t you clear road and reopen at least one lane? Right now, it is not safe to do that. There is still unstable rock above the roadway that is unsupported and could fall. Crews are actively working on the slope, and we cannot have traffic moving through an active work zone where rocks could come down. Also, some of the debris that is remaining on the road is acting as a buffer, helping to protect the road surface and prevent additional damage.

Until we understand and stabilize what’s above the highway, reopening, even partially, is not possible. We do not have an estimated timeline for reopening.

What travelers need to know

Northbound I-5 remains fully closed between North Lake Samish Road (milepost 246) and Fairhaven Parkway (milepost 251). Southbound I-5 is open and unaffected by this slide.

Detours and alternate routes are available:

  • SR 9 is the preferred route for freight
  • SR 11/Chuckanut Drive is available for passenger vehicles but not suitable for freight.
  • NB I-5 is being pushed off at exit 246 North Lake Samish

When a major highway like I-5 closes unexpectedly, drivers often follow directions from navigation apps, even onto roads that are not intended to handle that volume or type of traffic.

Traveler resources

Why this area is prone to slides and what we do to reduce risk

Aerial view of an exposed hillside showing layers of soil and rock with loose material and fallen debris, illustrating the geology of a landslide above Interstate 5.
layers of soil and rock are visible on the exposed slop above northbound I-5 near Bellingham, where geotechnical engineers are assessing stability following the landslide.

This stretch of I-5 runs along a steep hillside made up of layered soils, rock and glacial material. In places, those layers can hold water and shift over time, especially during periods of sustained wet weather.

That combination of steep slopes, complex geology and moisture means this area is naturally prone to landslides.

Our maintenance crews regularly:

  • Remove hazard trees and manage vegetation
  • Clear drainage systems to move water away from slopes
  • Inspect and maintain areas with a history of movement
  • Install features like catchment areas or barriers designed to capture smaller debris before it reaches the roadway

You can see some of that work along I-5, including barriers meant to catch smaller rocks and debris. Large-scale slides like this, where significant amounts of material come down from higher on the slope, are much harder to predict and prevent. That’s especially true when there is movement happening above the visible rock face.

That’s why the work happening now is focused not just on clearing what came down but understanding and stabilizing what remains above the highway.

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