Blaine I-5 Study
Status: Completed in 2009 — Construction Project
This project looked at the interchanges on Interstate 5 in the City of Blaine and identified improvements required to provide adequate access to this community in the future.
Location
Interstate 5 passes through the City of Blaine, Washington, and terminates at the U.S. – Canada border at the Peace Arch/Douglas Port-of-Entry. Blaine has two complete interchanges at Exits 276 and 275, and a partial interchange at Exit 274.
Why this project was needed
This project completed an Interchange Justification Report to analyze the impact of the Peace Arch facility expansion completed by U.S. General Services Administration adjacent to the northern interchange (Exit 276). The report also looked at the existing partial southern interchange (Exit 274) and considered approaches to making this a full interchange for improved access. Both interchange revisions considered how impacts at the border may affect future access to Blaine.
The project team consisted of representatives from the City of Blaine, U.S. Federal Highway Administration, U.S. General Services Administration, WA State Department of Transportation, and the Whatcom Council of Governments.
Results
The study resulted in a completed Interchange Justification Report in 2009 and a “Finding of Engineering and Operational Acceptability” from WA State Department of Transportation and the U.S. Federal Highway Administration. For a copy of the full report, contact the City of Blaine or Melissa Fanucci at (360) 685-8385.
Cost
$200,000
Funding & Partnerships
This project was funded by:
- U.S. Federal Highway Administration: $172,520
- WA State Department of Transportation: $7,480
- City of Blaine: $20,000