No estimated reopening time of highway near Bellingham, Wash. after landslides

A landslide near Bellingham, Wash. is seen in this image handed out by the Washington State Department of Transportation. (Courtesy: Finn Wendt/Cascadia Daily News)

In a potential headache for British Columbians travelling in the U.S., part of a major route between Washington state and the Canadian border remains closed after multiple landslides sent rocks and trees onto the road earlier this week.

Northbound lanes of the I-5 south of Bellingham have been closed since Thursday’s atmospheric river, and there is no estimated reopening time, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.

The closure is in effect for an approximately six-kilometre stretch between North Lake Samish Road and State Route 11/ Old Fairhaven Parkway, and drivers are being detoured via State Route 11 and 9. Officials warned travellers to expect delays on the I-5.

The combined slides sent roughly 1,500 to 2,000 cubic metres of debris down a slope, creating a pile more than 30 metres wide.

“Boulders, some as big as buses and many others larger than pickup trucks, remain unstable and unsupported. Safety concerns about more active debris movement prevented immediate cleanup from starting,” WSDOT wrote in a news release Saturday.

Emergency work began Saturday, with crews moving equipment into the area, according to officials. They will start clearing trees and debris on Sunday, and a full geotechnical engineering report is expected early next week.

WSDOT says it will provide an update on the timeline for repairs by Wednesday.

“WSDOT will continue to work with contractor crews to develop plans to safely reopen this vital corridor for people and commerce between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., as quickly as possible. Safety for work crews and travelers remains the top priority,” the release reads.