On Jan. 16, the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced a five-day full road closure of Mt. Baker Highway (SR 542) beginning on Monday, Feb. 2, following this season’s delayed opening of Mt. Baker Ski Area.
As drivers curve through the twisting Nooksack river and approach snow peaked mountains, the sights take an abrupt turn. The picturesque landscape becomes contrasted by bright orange warnings of imminent construction.
Winter storms sweeping across the Pacific Northwest spared no mercy, not even for the renowned ski area. December’s atmospheric flooding left sections of SR 542 riddled with debris and damage as water crept onto the roadway.
As repair efforts are underway, SR 542 is reduced to a single lane between mileposts 41 and 44. This closure allows for emergency intervention to an eroded embankment east of Wells Creek Road.
The full closure is imperative to restore road conditions near O’Keefe Creek. Consequently, the construction will cut off access to the ski area for a predicted 5 days, according to WSDOT.
“It’s not uncommon to start a little late, but it’s a bummer to miss a week in the middle,” said Tom Walgren, local business owner of Ski Doc 542.
The seasonal pilgrimage to Mt. Baker is engraved into Whatcom County's culture. A tradition that has stood the test of time, bringing community members together in the name of recreation.
However, road concerns are not an uncommon topic for frequent visitors of the area. Flooding remains a recurring issue due to close proximity to the Nooksack River.
“I’m glad they keep it open because I really love the recreation in this area,” said Walgren. “I appreciate what they are doing.”
Kamra Greenwall-Cox (she/her) is a city news reporter for The Front this quarter. She is a fourth-year environmental journalism major. Outside of reporting on the city of Bellingham, Kamra enjoys practicing aerial arts and reading. You can reach her at kamragreenwallcox.thefront@gmail.com
