Public works invites comments on future roundabout at Birch Bay-Lynden, Blaine roads

Whatcom County Public Works Department has invited the public to share its thoughts on a proposed roundabout project to replace an often traffic-jammed four-way intersection at Birch Bay-Lynden and Blaine roads.

The four-way intersection, which is controlled by a single, blinking red light, often delays travelers during peak hours, especially during summer months, according to public works.

Plans to upgrade the intersection to a continually flowing, higher speed roundabout have been in the works since at least 2020, but delays have pushed back the expected groundbreaking to summer 2025.

Whatcom County Public Works Department said construction of a roundabout would also include new drainage systems, pedestrian sidewalks and create “curb-separated bicyclist facilities.”

Public works is still in the design phase of the project. The final aspect of the design phase is to conduct a public comment period, which the county urges anyone who travels through the intersection to share their thoughts and concerns.

The survey can be found at bit.ly/4a80LiL and takes roughly five minutes to complete, according to the county website. Public works will hold a virtual public meeting to gain more public feedback, but a date has not been announced.