A key route to Bellis Fair mall will close for several days of roundabout work

Robert Mittendorf
·1 min read

A key intersection on a route to Bellis Fair mall closes this weekend and for several days next week as part of a roundabout construction project.

The intersection at Meridian and West Illinois streets will close Saturday and again from Wednesday through Friday next week as workers grind the roadway and pave the new intersection, the city of Bellingham said Friday in its weekly newsletter.

“We encourage drivers to use a different route, to follow detour signs, and to be cautious of workers in the area. Thank you for your patience. It is getting close,” the announcement states.

A drawing shows the roundabout that will replace a traffic signal at Meridian and West Illinois streets.
A drawing shows the roundabout that will replace a traffic signal at Meridian and West Illinois streets.

The intersection of Meridian and West Illinois is part of a commercial district that includes a Haggen supermarket and is a few blocks north of the Fountain District “urban village,” which has seen several new apartment buildings and a commercial transformation in recent years.

Meridian Street carries 11,800 cars and trucks daily north of the intersection, according to a 2023 traffic count from the city of Bellingham. West Illinois carries 5,900 cars daily west of Meridian and 8,500 cars daily east of Meridian.