All lanes remained closed on northbound Interstate 5 south of Bellingham on Saturday due to major rockslides, according to the state Department of Transportation.
It was unclear when the freeway would reopen.
I-5 closed Thursday night after slides left rocks, trees and debris blocking all lanes, between Lake Padden and Lake Samish. An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 cubic yards of debris slid down the slope to the freeway. An Olympic-sized swimming pool is typically just over 3,000 cubic yards.
At least one of the rocks was larger than a bus.
The Department of Transportation signed an emergency contract with Interwest Construction and expected emergency work to start Saturday. The company planned to start hauling away trees and debris Sunday.
Crews will work seven days a week, the agency said.
An update on the repair plan and timeline should be ready by Wednesday. An engineering report is expected early next week. An initial geotechnical report had found concern for more potential movement in the debris pile and on the slope, according to the Department of Transportation.
Traffic on northbound I-5 was being diverted at Exit 246, at the north end of Lake Samish. The agency recommended drivers detour to Highway 9 or Highway 11, also known as Chuckanut Drive, a route also prone to slides.
Highway 11 is not suitable for freight traffic, the agency said.
The agency warned against going to the I-5 slide or flying drones over it. The slope remains unstable and crews will use heavy machinery there once work starts.
“We understand this is frustrating,” the Department of Transportation said on X. “We are focusing on doing this precise, methodical work as safely and quickly as we can.”
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