WSDOT Clears Bellingham Landslide, Reopens Northbound I-5 Early

Crews worked around the clock for nearly a month to stabilize the slope and remove thousands of cubic yards of debris.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 8:51pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A vast, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of gray, blue, and green, with a winding mountain road partially obscured by thick fog, conveying the overwhelming scale and power of the natural environment.The dramatic reopening of a key highway after a major landslide highlights the formidable forces of nature and the engineering expertise required to restore critical transportation infrastructure.Bellingham Today

After nearly one month of intensive work to stabilize a landslide south of Bellingham, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has officially reopened all lanes of northbound Interstate 5 a day ahead of schedule. The road closure was caused by a March 19 landslide that covered the highway with debris.

Why it matters

The closure of northbound I-5 in this area had significant impacts on traffic and commerce, as the interstate is a critical transportation artery connecting the Pacific Northwest. WSDOT's successful efforts to safely reopen the highway ahead of schedule will provide relief to drivers and local businesses that were affected by the detours.

The details

WSDOT crews worked around the clock under an emergency contract, using a methodical top-down approach to stabilize the slope and clear thousands of cubic yards of debris. This included scaling loose rock, drilling into the hillside, and installing steel dowels to anchor the slope. Crews also removed a bus-sized boulder at the center of the slide. The final stage involves removing a large, loose rock on the north end that couldn't be anchored, which will require a rolling slowdown on southbound I-5 on Sunday.

  • The landslide occurred on March 19, 2026.
  • WSDOT crews have been working seven days a week since the closure to stabilize the slope and clear debris.
  • The northbound lanes of I-5 were originally scheduled to reopen on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
  • WSDOT was able to reopen the northbound lanes a day early, on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.

The players

Julie Meredith

Secretary of Transportation for the Washington State Department of Transportation.

David Rasbach

Communications staff member at WSDOT.

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)

The state agency responsible for maintaining and operating the transportation infrastructure in Washington, including Interstate 5.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This has been complex, high-risk work that required a methodical top-down approach. Our focus from day one has been to reopen the highway as quickly as possible, but only when we can do so safely.”

— Julie Meredith, Secretary of Transportation

“Took us almost four weeks. Some of it was first initially assessing the area with our geotechnical engineers, determining how stable the area was, and everything like that. And then we moved into stabilizing the slope and clearing debris. The stabilization of the slope is a really detailed, precise process.”

— David Rasbach, Communications staff

What’s next

Out of caution, southbound I-5 travelers should expect a rolling slowdown at 8 a.m. on Sunday while crews remove a large, loose rock on the north end of the slide that couldn't be anchored.

The takeaway

WSDOT's successful efforts to safely reopen northbound I-5 ahead of schedule after the Bellingham landslide demonstrates the agency's commitment to restoring critical transportation infrastructure as quickly as possible while prioritizing public safety. This will provide relief to drivers and local businesses that were impacted by the highway closure.