Stay away from Western Washington if you're headed to BC

Thanks for the updates....we are traveling back to Ontario via USA on this road in the second week of July. Can someone local or whom ever is traveling through update delay times or the best detour.
#20 looks like a good option.
Appreciated.
Respectfully,
Am

(did not check spell)

b2egypt wrote:
Thanks for the info.. We are heading to Bellingham to take ferry to Alaska in a few weeks.

If you can head a bit north prior to western Washington and get on #20,
you got it made. Take the right swing onto Cook Rd. in Sedro Wooooliee and you'll pop out in Burlington. Onto I5 north for about 15 minutes, and you have the ferry exit.


Gary Haupt

No real traffic through the Skagit Valley today

Looks like BC tourism people are worried

Skagit bridge collapse has tourism officials on guard in Vancouver, B.C.

Even without this problem, WA20 is good way to Bellingham. With it traffic near the intersection of 20 and I5 may be a bit slower than usual but not impossible. Keep an eye on WSDOT.

Or if you want a bit of Canada before Alaska consider taking bc4 the last part.

Thanks for the info.. We are heading to Bellingham to take ferry to Alaska in a few weeks.

garyhaupt wrote:
..
OOhhhh..RIGHT ON!!!!....see? a silver lining.
...
Gary Haupt

It's all your fault! :)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20130524/NEWS01/705249866

State Trooper Mark Francis told the Skagit Valley Herald the driver works for Mullen Trucking in Alberta. The tractor-trailer, which was marked as an oversize load, was hauling a housing for drilling equipment to Vancouver, Wash., he said. The top right front corner of the load struck several trusses on the north end of the bridge, Francis said.

An accident report said the driver was William Scott of Spruce Grove, Alberta, near Edmonton.

Though local radio talk mentioned the possibility that some other truck forced this one to the right, giving less over head clearance.
There is some curvature in the overhead truss members. But those are details the investigators will dig into.

paulj wrote:

If this detour keeps Canadians from heading south of Mt Vernon, it also keeps Seattle drivers from going north. That means you (Canadians) get Birch Bay and Deception Pass all to your selves. :)

OOhhhh..RIGHT ON!!!!....see? a silver lining.



Gary Haupt

wsdot detour map

Google maps has a traffic mode, that gives some idea of where the backups are.

If this detour keeps Canadians from heading south of Mt Vernon, it also keeps Seattle drivers from going north. That means you (Canadians) get Birch Bay and Deception Pass all to your selves. :)

Well the bridge on Highway 9 over the Skagit is just awful! That's my old home town and that bridge isn't going to be able to take a lot of traffic.

And the bridge just east of I-5 (Riverside, between Burlington and Mt. Vernon) is going to be crammed because there are major shopping areas on each side of the river. Ought to be interesting, glad I don't have to go that far north this year as mom moved to the Seattle area to be with my sister.

Barb