If you're heading to Lummi Island this week or next, plan extra time. Whatcom County Public Works Maintenance and Operations crews began a culvert, storm main, and catch basin replacement project at Gooseberry Spur near the Lummi Island ferry terminal on Tuesday, June 2. The work is expected to continue through Thursday, June 11.
Gooseberry Point, located just west of Ferndale on the shores of Lummi Bay, is the mainland terminus for the Whatcom Chief, the county-operated ferry that provides the only vehicle and passenger access to Lummi Island. The Gooseberry Spur is the short roadway connecting Haxton Way to the ferry terminal itself, including the holding lanes where vehicles queue before boarding. It is a high-traffic bottleneck even on a normal day, particularly during morning and evening commute windows and summer tourist season.
During the project, one of the two ferry holding lanes will be closed for the full duration of the work. Flaggers will be on site to direct traffic through the work zone and assist vehicles traveling to and from the terminal. Drivers should expect delays and are encouraged to plan ahead or use alternate routes to avoid backups, particularly at peak travel times. Ferry traffic and local traffic through the area will continue, but the narrowed holding capacity means that queues could extend further back onto Haxton Way than usual.
The culvert and catch basin work at the Gooseberry Spur is routine infrastructure maintenance. Culverts in high-traffic areas near water can deteriorate from both vehicle load stress and the wet conditions typical of the Bellingham area. A failing catch basin or storm main at a coastal ferry terminal creates both flooding risk and potential damage to the road surface. Replacing these before they fail completely is the right call, even if it means a ten-day disruption for Lummi Island commuters and visitors.
The Lummi Island ferry is a lifeline for the island's approximately 900 permanent residents. Lummi Island is not accessible by bridge, and the Whatcom Chief makes roughly two dozen crossings daily. Any reduction in holding lane capacity at the terminal directly affects loading efficiency and can cascade into missed crossings for drivers who arrive just as the boat is loading. During the June 2 to 11 window, island residents and frequent visitors should build extra buffer into their travel plans, especially if they need to make connecting trips or appointments on the mainland.
Lummi Island is also a popular summer destination for day-trippers from Bellingham and the greater Whatcom County area. The island is known for its agricultural character, waterfront views, and the Willows Inn. Visitors planning a trip during this period should check the Whatcom Chief ferry schedule and factor in potential holding lane backups before they head out.
County crews have not indicated that any ferry sailings will be cancelled as a result of the project. The terminal remains fully operational; the disruption is limited to vehicle staging before boarding. Pedestrian and bicycle access to the ferry is not expected to be affected.
The project wraps up by June 11. For current ferry schedules and service alerts, the county ferry page is the best reference. Elsewhere in Whatcom County, road work season is in full swing, with a significant closure on Drayton Harbor Road near Blaine also beginning this month.
