Drivers in Ferndale, WA should plan alternate routes next week. The City of Ferndale has announced a full closure of the intersection at Church Road and Thornton Street on Tuesday, June 16, and Wednesday, June 17. City crews will be grinding and repaving the intersection both days, with the closure in effect from 6:30 AM to 5:00 PM each day.

The intersection will reopen each night after work concludes and will be passable overnight, but motorists who use Church Road or Thornton Street as part of their regular commute should plan to add time or choose alternate routes for both mornings. Detour signs will be posted to direct drivers around the closure, and the city is asking residents to follow signage rather than attempt to navigate through the active work zone.

The City of Ferndale Public Works department noted that it cannot guarantee emergency vehicle access during active work hours due to the new asphalt being placed within the intersection. Residents near Church Road and Thornton Street should keep this in mind and ensure any time-sensitive appointments or needs during those hours account for the potential delay in emergency response routing.

Road maintenance like this is a regular part of Ferndale's infrastructure upkeep. The city has been managing an active summer construction season, and this repaving is part of ongoing efforts to address road surface wear from winter weather and heavy use. Church Road in Ferndale connects residential neighborhoods to key commercial and school routes in the area.

The closure comes during a period of already heightened regional traffic as the FIFA World Cup brings visitors through Whatcom County on their way between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. Ferndale residents who need to travel through that part of the city on June 16 or 17 should factor both the local closure and any increased I-5 activity into their planning.

For questions about the closure, residents can contact the City of Ferndale Public Works department directly. Additional road closure and restriction information for the broader county is available through the Whatcom County Road Closures and Restrictions page.

The intersection is expected to fully reopen and be accessible to all traffic after work concludes on Wednesday evening, June 17.