BLAINE, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Blaine will begin an estimated four-year long process this summer to build a new railroad crossing overpass.

The city of Blaine sent out a notice on Monday seeking interest from consulting firms to help manage the project.

It says the contract would begin in July 2024 and end in July 2028, with the option for the city to extend the agreement if necessary.

Blaine’s Bell Road – BNSF Railway Grade Separation Project will look to replace the existing Dakota Creek Bridge with a new roadway and railway overpass. Construction will also include an I-5 ramp realignment and a dedicated multiuse path parallel to Bell Road.

The city says the project will reduce congestion at the intersection of Bell Road and Peace Portal Drive, while making it safer for cars on the highway and trains on the high-speed rail corridor.

Blaine received a $9.5 million grant for the project by the U.S. Department of Transportation last summer.