Drivers traveling Hannegan Road between E. Hemmi Road and E. Axton Road should plan for delays beginning Monday, May 18, and running through Thursday, May 21. Whatcom County Public Works will be performing crack sealing operations on that stretch during this four-day window, narrowing traffic to a single alternating lane.
Hannegan Road is a key north-south corridor in the eastern Bellingham area, connecting communities from Birch Bay-Lynden Road down toward the Axton Road intersection near Sudden Valley and the I-5 corridor. Crack sealing is a preventative maintenance technique used to extend the life of asphalt pavement by filling surface cracks before water infiltration can accelerate deterioration, especially heading into summer heat cycles.
Flaggers will be on site directing traffic through the single open lane from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. each workday. Outside those hours, the road is expected to be fully open. Travelers who regularly use Hannegan Road during the morning or midday commute window should expect added time and consider alternate routes.
Alternate routes for north-south travel in the area include Guide Meridian (SR 539) to the west, which connects Bellingham to Lynden and the Canadian border, and the Hannegan Road parallel routes through the Laurel and Everson areas. Drivers heading to or from the Mount Baker Hwy corridor may find cutting over via E. Axton Road less affected depending on their origin and destination.
County crews ask that drivers slow down through the work zone and follow all flagger directions without exception. Work zones on rural roads can be dangerous for both crews and motorists, particularly where sightlines are limited. Washington State law requires drivers to slow down and yield to flaggers, and violations can result in fines.
This work is part of Whatcom County's ongoing road maintenance program, which covers hundreds of miles of county-maintained roads across the region. Crack sealing operations typically ramp up in spring and early summer, when road crews can work safely in dry conditions before temperatures become extreme.
Residents with questions about the Hannegan Road project or other county road closures can check the Whatcom County road closures and restrictions page for updates. Work schedules are subject to change due to weather or equipment issues.
Drivers should plan ahead now and allow extra travel time for any Hannegan Road trips scheduled during the workday hours of May 18 through 21.
