BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Drivers in south Bellingham should prepare for a long-term road closure near Chuckanut Creek starting next week.

WSDOT says both directions of Old Samish Road will be closed for the rest of the year starting at 5 a.m. on Monday, April 27.

The road will be used to build a temporary two-lane bypass for southbound I-5 traffic while crews remove a fish barrier under the highway.

Northbound I-5 will use another temporary bypass while the barrier is fixed under those lanes. Old Samish Road runs parallel to I-5 from North Lake Samish Road and connects with Chuckanut Drive.

Local access will still be allowed, but through traffic will need to use alternate routes.

South Whatcom Fire Authority says it’s coordinating with the Bellingham Fire Department to minimize impacts to response efforts during the closure.

Meanwhile, overnight drivers on I-5 in Bellingham should plan for delays next week.

WSDOT says both directions of I-5 will be reduced to one lane in several locations between Samish Way and Meridian Street on Monday and Tuesday.

The closures will take effect between 8 p.m. and 2:30 a.m.

Crews will be collecting roadway samples for materials testing ahead of WSDOT’s roadway preservation project for next year.

Meanwhile, more nighttime work for fish passage projects will take place south of Bellingham from 8 pm to 5 am Sunday through Friday.

During that time, the right lanes on both directions of I-5 will close near North Lake Samish Road.

And the left lanes on both directions of I-5 will close near Alger Road.