Crews Continue Clearing Landslide on I-5 South of Bellingham

No timeline yet for reopening the major highway

Apr. 7, 2026 at 10:18pm

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A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of grey, blue, and green, depicting a massive landslide that has buried a section of highway, with the damaged road and debris dwarfed by the towering, fog-shrouded slopes surrounding it.A landslide of epic proportions blocks a vital transportation artery, underscoring the raw power of nature and the challenges faced by infrastructure in the Pacific Northwest.Bellingham Today

A large landslide has closed northbound I-5 south of Bellingham, Washington for nearly three weeks. WSDOT crews have made progress in clearing debris, including splitting a 'bus-sized' rock into two pieces, but there is still no estimated timeline for when the highway will reopen.

Why it matters

I-5 is a critical transportation artery connecting major cities in the Pacific Northwest. The closure is causing significant disruptions to freight traffic and commuters, requiring them to take longer detour routes not designed for large vehicles.

The details

WSDOT crews have been working around the clock to clear the landslide, which occurred nearly three weeks ago. They have now dislodged the final loose rock in the middle of the slope and have started hauling away debris so experts can assess the bottom of the slide area. A major breakthrough came last week when crews were able to split the largest 'bus-sized' rock into two pieces.

  • The landslide occurred nearly three weeks ago, closing northbound I-5 between North Lake Samish and Old Fairhaven Parkway.
  • WSDOT crews made significant progress last week by splitting a large 'bus-sized' rock into two pieces.

The players

WSDOT

The Washington State Department of Transportation, the agency responsible for maintaining and repairing the state's highways and transportation infrastructure.

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What’s next

WSDOT continues to work on clearing the debris and assessing the slide area, but has not provided an estimated timeline for when the highway will reopen. Freight traffic is being directed to take the longer Highway 9 detour, while other drivers are advised to use the 'zipper merge' technique when approaching the lane closures.

The takeaway

The extended closure of a major interstate highway like I-5 can have significant economic and logistical impacts, underscoring the importance of maintaining and repairing critical transportation infrastructure to ensure the smooth flow of people and goods.