WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Crews will begin emergency repairs near the Mount Baker Highway this weekend.

The work comes after floodwater and debris from December’s flooding plugged a culvert that usually allows Bruce Creek to flow beneath the highway about two miles east of Maple Falls.

WSDOT says the repairs are scheduled to begin on Saturday, Jan. 17 and will likely last through early February.

People traveling through the area should expect delays while flaggers alternate in both directions during daytime hours. Drivers are also being asked to obey warning signs and slow down while water is over the highway.

The state’s initial estimate of the damage caused by last month’s historic flooding is between $40 and $50 million.

The work on Mount Baker Highway is one of 16 emergency repair projects that are taking place across the state.