Drivers on Meridian Street in north Bellingham should expect lane restrictions starting next week as city crews begin construction on the Tremont Lift Station project. The outside northbound lane on Meridian between Van Wyck Road and Tremont Avenue will be closed weekdays from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning Wednesday, September 9, continuing through early November. The full project is expected to run into spring 2027.
What the Project Involves
The Tremont Lift Station is a sewer infrastructure project that will install a new pump station and sewer line on the north Bellingham corridor. The new infrastructure will connect to the city's existing sewer network and extend service to developing areas near Kline Road and Kelly Road, two names that reflect the ongoing residential and commercial growth on Bellingham's north side.
City officials describe the project as intended to support future growth in north Bellingham. The area around Meridian Street north of Bakerview Road has seen substantial new residential development in recent years, and utility infrastructure often lags behind housing construction. Projects like this one build the backbone that makes additional development possible, extending sewer capacity ahead of anticipated growth rather than scrambling to catch up after new neighborhoods are already occupied.
A lift station, sometimes called a pump station, is a facility that pumps wastewater uphill from lower-lying areas to a gravity-fed sewer main. North Bellingham's topography requires this type of infrastructure in several locations, since much of the development is occurring on terrain that does not drain naturally toward the city's existing treatment facilities. The Tremont station will be one of several such facilities serving the northern portion of the city's sewer system.
The Lane Closure: What to Expect
The outside northbound lane on Meridian Street between Van Wyck Road and Tremont Avenue will be closed on weekdays from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. Drivers heading north will be directed into the remaining lane. The restriction applies during work hours only, meaning the lane should be restored by mid-afternoon each day.
Drivers should also expect delays near the Meridian Street and Tremont Avenue intersection specifically, which is identified as a congestion point during the construction period. That intersection sees significant turning movement from Tremont Avenue, and the combination of lane reduction and active construction equipment will likely create backup during morning and midday peak periods.
The early November target for the initial lane closure phase means drivers on this stretch of Meridian can expect approximately two months of restricted conditions before any relief. The project then continues into spring 2027 in a form that is not fully described in current public communications, suggesting that additional work phases may affect traffic in ways that are not yet fully defined.
North Bellingham's Infrastructure Picture
The Tremont Lift Station is one of several infrastructure investments the City of Bellingham has underway or planned for the northern part of the city. Bellingham's growth pattern over the past two decades has pushed development northward along the Meridian corridor and into areas like Cordata, Westerra, and the newer subdivisions approaching the Ferndale boundary.
Each new development requires water, sewer, and transportation connections that must be built and maintained by the city. The capital cost of that infrastructure is partly funded by development fees paid when new projects are permitted, and partly by the city's utility funds and general capital budget. The Tremont project is the type of investment that rarely generates headlines but represents essential work that keeps pace with a growing community.
Meridian Street, as the primary north-south arterial through this part of the city, carries a high volume of daily traffic between downtown Bellingham, the Cordata commercial district, and neighborhoods approaching the county line. Any sustained lane reduction on this corridor has a real effect on commute times and delivery routes for businesses along the corridor.
How to Plan Around the Work
Drivers who regularly use northbound Meridian during weekday morning hours have several options for avoiding the worst of the delays. Aldrich Road and Kline Road both provide parallel routes for some portion of the affected stretch. Guide Meridian, one block to the west, carries heavier commercial traffic but remains fully open and can serve as an alternative for some trips.
The WSDOT traffic information site and the city's public works page will carry updates as the project progresses. Residents with questions about the project scope, timeline, or traffic impacts can contact Bellingham Public Works directly through the city website. For a broader look at road projects coming to Whatcom County after Labor Day, the full roundup of upcoming lane closures and work zones covers I-5, Chuckanut Drive, and Highway 9 as well.
