Meridian-Birchwood Transportation Improvements

60% design rendering of the planned Meridian-Birchwood multi-modal roundabout

Help guide the future of the Meridian–Birchwood corridors

Do you care about the Meridian Street intersections at Squalicum Parkway, and/or at Birchwood Avenue? We are seeking community input on priorities and design elements as we advance the Meridian–Birchwood Transportation Improvements Project toward final design. Until March 15, please share your input on which features you believe are most important to prioritize in the final roundabout and connections using the Survey and Questions tools below. You can also join City staff for an interactive Open House, 6:00-7:30 pm, Wednesday, March 4, at Parkview Elementary School.

Full project details are availableContinue reading

Help guide the future of the Meridian–Birchwood corridors

Full project details are available on the Meridian–Birchwood Transportation Improvements project webpage.

Why are we asking for your input?

These two closely spaced intersections currently experience major congestion and serve as key connections between the waterfront, the Port of Bellingham, and I‑5. The project is designed to improve traffic flow for people and freight while enhancing visibility, access, and multimodal efficiency. As we finalize the design, we’re balancing goals for the safety and comfort of people walking and biking, efficient freight movement, access to transit, trail connectivity, and environmental restoration. Your feedback will help ensure the final design reflects the community’s priorities for this critical piece of Bellingham’s transportation network.

What will change along Squalicum Way, Birchwood Avenue, and Meridian Street?

This project will address a critical need in our transportation network, prioritized after extensive community input and traffic monitoring identified long-standing congestion and safety issues near these two closely spaced intersections. Now the project is moving forward, aiming to increase safety, sight distance, access, and efficiency at a key junction in our transportation system.

The project will:

Realign the Squalicum Way truck route to match Birchwood Avenue before reaching Meridian Street.
Reconstruct Birchwood Avenue to meet the realigned Squalicum Way in a standard T‑intersection.
Replace the signal at Meridian & Birchwood with a multi‑modal roundabout designed to improve efficiency and safety for all users.
Extend the Bay to Baker Trail from Cornwall Memorial Park through the project area, including a trail crossing at Meridian on the south leg of the roundabout.
Remove the unused portion of Squalicum Way to enable restoration of Tributary W and related habitat improvements.
Provide 1% for the Arts features within the roundabout and potentially at other key locations in the project area.

The revised scope (Squalicum Way realignment, Meridian–Birchwood roundabout, and Tributary W restoration) is fully funded for construction, with federal permitting and right-of-way acquisition underway. The project team has completed a 60% design set, and construction is currently anticipated to begin in early 2028, subject to permitting and right-of-way acquisition.

Want to learn more?

Additional details and background about this project are available on the Meridian–Birchwood Transportation Improvements project webpage.

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

Please share any questions you have below:

Share Do you think that traffic will be sufficiently slowed down upon entering the roundabout to watch for people at the crosswalks? The turning radius at the northbound and southbound approaches for people turning right seems rather large, and looks like it could be done at high speeds (This happens at southbound Cordata Pkwy and Stuart - drivers turning right fly through that roundabout without paying attention to people crossing.) Have you considered raised crossings and/or sharper turning radii or chicanes to slow traffic? I know kids cross here regularly, and especially with the continuation of the Bay to Baker trail it will be important that drivers are slowed down here. on Facebook Share Do you think that traffic will be sufficiently slowed down upon entering the roundabout to watch for people at the crosswalks? The turning radius at the northbound and southbound approaches for people turning right seems rather large, and looks like it could be done at high speeds (This happens at southbound Cordata Pkwy and Stuart - drivers turning right fly through that roundabout without paying attention to people crossing.) Have you considered raised crossings and/or sharper turning radii or chicanes to slow traffic? I know kids cross here regularly, and especially with the continuation of the Bay to Baker trail it will be important that drivers are slowed down here. on Twitter Share Do you think that traffic will be sufficiently slowed down upon entering the roundabout to watch for people at the crosswalks? The turning radius at the northbound and southbound approaches for people turning right seems rather large, and looks like it could be done at high speeds (This happens at southbound Cordata Pkwy and Stuart - drivers turning right fly through that roundabout without paying attention to people crossing.) Have you considered raised crossings and/or sharper turning radii or chicanes to slow traffic? I know kids cross here regularly, and especially with the continuation of the Bay to Baker trail it will be important that drivers are slowed down here. on Linkedin Email Do you think that traffic will be sufficiently slowed down upon entering the roundabout to watch for people at the crosswalks? The turning radius at the northbound and southbound approaches for people turning right seems rather large, and looks like it could be done at high speeds (This happens at southbound Cordata Pkwy and Stuart - drivers turning right fly through that roundabout without paying attention to people crossing.) Have you considered raised crossings and/or sharper turning radii or chicanes to slow traffic? I know kids cross here regularly, and especially with the continuation of the Bay to Baker trail it will be important that drivers are slowed down here. link

Do you think that traffic will be sufficiently slowed down upon entering the roundabout to watch for people at the crosswalks? The turning radius at the northbound and southbound approaches for people turning right seems rather large, and looks like it could be done at high speeds (This happens at southbound Cordata Pkwy and Stuart - drivers turning right fly through that roundabout without paying attention to people crossing.) Have you considered raised crossings and/or sharper turning radii or chicanes to slow traffic? I know kids cross here regularly, and especially with the continuation of the Bay to Baker trail it will be important that drivers are slowed down here.

sonja asked about 1 month ago

The chicanes on the approach are designed for a target speed of about 20 mph when vehicles enter the roundabout. Some legs have physical constraints that limit our options, but we will review these elements again during final design.
All pedestrian crossings will include push‑button flashing beacons to improve visibility and safety. The multi‑use trail crossing on the south leg of the roundabout will be a true raised crossing and will also act as a traffic‑calming feature.
The raised intersection at Birchwood and Squalicum is intended as a visual cue that conditions are changing. Because Squalicum Way and the connection to Meridian on the north side of the roundabout serve as a major truck route, it isn’t appropriate to introduce a significant grade change like a speed hump or speed cushion on that segment.
Share How will the proposed intersection with Birchwood work? Isn't that a steep hill? It looks like a place where traffic will back up while eastbound vehicles wait for an opening to turn left onto Birchwood. on Facebook Share How will the proposed intersection with Birchwood work? Isn't that a steep hill? It looks like a place where traffic will back up while eastbound vehicles wait for an opening to turn left onto Birchwood. on Twitter Share How will the proposed intersection with Birchwood work? Isn't that a steep hill? It looks like a place where traffic will back up while eastbound vehicles wait for an opening to turn left onto Birchwood. on Linkedin Email How will the proposed intersection with Birchwood work? Isn't that a steep hill? It looks like a place where traffic will back up while eastbound vehicles wait for an opening to turn left onto Birchwood. link

How will the proposed intersection with Birchwood work? Isn't that a steep hill? It looks like a place where traffic will back up while eastbound vehicles wait for an opening to turn left onto Birchwood.

PinePeas asked about 1 month ago

Current plans call for a standard T-intersection with a stop sign only for southbound traffic on Birchwood. The Squalicum Way and Birchwood Ave realignment and intersection was designed to ensure grades were not steep on any leg. Squalicum Way is at most 4% and Birchwood is at most 3.5%. Various options were considered for this location, including another roundabout; however, the area has significant constraints due to the existing grade difference between the roads and the creek along Squalicum Way. Based on completed traffic studies, a signal is not warranted under either current or projected future conditions. The most recent analysis predicts that with the updated intersection design, peak delays here should not exceed ~30 seconds.
Share How large is this roundabout? I really, really hope it's way bigger than the one on Illinois and Meridian, because that one is too small to allow cars to merge effectively. on Facebook Share How large is this roundabout? I really, really hope it's way bigger than the one on Illinois and Meridian, because that one is too small to allow cars to merge effectively. on Twitter Share How large is this roundabout? I really, really hope it's way bigger than the one on Illinois and Meridian, because that one is too small to allow cars to merge effectively. on Linkedin Email How large is this roundabout? I really, really hope it's way bigger than the one on Illinois and Meridian, because that one is too small to allow cars to merge effectively. link

How large is this roundabout? I really, really hope it's way bigger than the one on Illinois and Meridian, because that one is too small to allow cars to merge effectively.

PinePeas asked about 1 month ago

Thanks for sharing your question! This roundabout will be much larger than the one at Meridian and Illinois. The outer diameter of the circulating lane is approximately 122 feet. The Meridian and Illinois roundabout was designed to fit within the existing right-of-way and has a diameter of approximately 70 feet.
Share Will there a be warning lights that pedestrians can activate at the crosswalks at the roundabout? on Facebook Share Will there a be warning lights that pedestrians can activate at the crosswalks at the roundabout? on Twitter Share Will there a be warning lights that pedestrians can activate at the crosswalks at the roundabout? on Linkedin Email Will there a be warning lights that pedestrians can activate at the crosswalks at the roundabout? link

Will there a be warning lights that pedestrians can activate at the crosswalks at the roundabout?

PinePeas asked about 1 month ago

Thanks for sharing your question! Yes, all of the ped/bike crossings on the roundabout will be equipped with push-button-activated rapid flashing beacons.
Share What is the nature of the Birchwood Ave - Squalicum Pkwy intersection? My best guess from the picture is that Birchwood has a stop sign and Squalicum does not. Given the traffic at peak hours, that looks like it could be a challenging left turn if Squalicum backs up. I have seen how Northwest can back up at peak hours. on Facebook Share What is the nature of the Birchwood Ave - Squalicum Pkwy intersection? My best guess from the picture is that Birchwood has a stop sign and Squalicum does not. Given the traffic at peak hours, that looks like it could be a challenging left turn if Squalicum backs up. I have seen how Northwest can back up at peak hours. on Twitter Share What is the nature of the Birchwood Ave - Squalicum Pkwy intersection? My best guess from the picture is that Birchwood has a stop sign and Squalicum does not. Given the traffic at peak hours, that looks like it could be a challenging left turn if Squalicum backs up. I have seen how Northwest can back up at peak hours. on Linkedin Email What is the nature of the Birchwood Ave - Squalicum Pkwy intersection? My best guess from the picture is that Birchwood has a stop sign and Squalicum does not. Given the traffic at peak hours, that looks like it could be a challenging left turn if Squalicum backs up. I have seen how Northwest can back up at peak hours. link

What is the nature of the Birchwood Ave - Squalicum Pkwy intersection? My best guess from the picture is that Birchwood has a stop sign and Squalicum does not. Given the traffic at peak hours, that looks like it could be a challenging left turn if Squalicum backs up. I have seen how Northwest can back up at peak hours.

Jillian asked about 1 month ago

Thanks for sharing your question about the project! You are correct that current plans call for a standard T-intersection with a stop sign only for southbound traffic on Birchwood. Based on completed traffic studies, a signal is not warranted under either current or projected future conditions. The most recent analysis predicts that with the updated intersection design, peak delays here should not exceed ~30 seconds.