Birch Bay Drive should be paved by June 26

If weather cooperates, the lane of Birch Bay Drive that has been closed since December will be paved and open to traffic by Wednesday, June 26, according to Whatcom County Public Works.

Ferndale-based Western Refinery Services began grading and paving this week and plans to return to stripe the road on June 25. County public works staff said construction would have minimal traffic impacts, as the damaged lane is already closed.

County staff cautioned that finishing on time depends on dry weather.

The southbound lane of Birch Bay Drive has been closed between Harborview and Shintaffer roads since December 20, when a storm flooded the road and damaged the shoulder and southbound lane.

The county is working on seven other small-scale paving and road repair projects throughout Whatcom County in late June.