03/25/2026
The Slide at Fairhaven: A Test of Your 'Plan B'
Greetings, . As many of you are navigating today, Northbound I-5 remains completely blocked between North Lake Samish (Exit 246) and Old Fairhaven Parkway (Exit 250). When nature decides to move 3,000 cubic yards of debris onto our main artery, "business as usual" goes out the window.
Why Landslides are a Unique Preparedness Challenge
Landslides aren't just "mud on the road." They represent a total failure of infrastructure that can take weeks, not hours, to resolve.
The Detour Trap: Everyone follows the GPS. This turns local roads like Samish Way into parking lots, stretching a 20-minute drive into over an hour.
The Weight Factor: Routes like Chuckanut Drive (SR 11) are scenic but unsuitable for heavy loads or trailers. Knowing the weight and clearance of your vehicle is vital before you exit the interstate.
Unstable Ground: As WSDOT geotechnical engineers have noted, a slide is often "active." Just because the rain stopped doesn't mean the hillside has finished moving.
Putting Your Skills to the Test
If you found yourself stuck in the Fairhaven bottleneck today, ask yourself:
Do I know the "Detour of the Detour"? Relying on SR 9 might take longer in miles, but saving two hours of idling in Fairhaven traffic is a win for your fuel and your sanity.
Is my vehicle "Slide-Ready"? Do you have enough fuel to sit in stop-and-go traffic for two hours? Do you have water and a snack in the cab?
Can I navigate without a screen? If cell towers are overloaded or GPS fails, do you have a physical map to find those "other ways around" through the backroads?
Stay safe out there, and remember: The best time to find your alternate route was yesterday. The second best time is right now.