Although the City of Bellingham's emergency closure of the Electric Avenue Bridge over Whatcom Creek due to recently identified "critical" structural failures will prompt Whatcom Transit Authority buses on Route 525 (Downtown to Barkley via Whatcom Falls Park) to detour via Woburn Street, impacts to transit access to Whatcom Falls Park should be mostly minimal. However, other local parks in the vicinity will be farther out of reach with the detour. 

According to the COB's June 3 announcement: "We anticipate a minimum two-week closure, but a more precise timeframe for repairs and capacity limitations cannot be confirmed at this time." The Electric Avenue Bridge remains open to bicyclists and pedestrians.

In a WTA announcement shared via social media, the agency said that all Route 525 stops along Alabama Street between Electric Avenue and Woburn Street, along with all stops along Electric Avenue will be closed, except the WTA bus shelter at Whatcom Falls Park, near Birch Street.

Due to the closure of the Electric Avenue Bridge over Whatcom Creek, the WTA's Route 525 will detour via Woburn Street and skip stops on Alabama Street. Route 525 will continue to serve all stops on Lakeway Drive and the Whatcom Falls Park bus shelter at Electric Avenue near Birch Street. (Route 525 diagram via WTA)

Practically speaking, that means that Route 525 buses, which operate once an hour on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, will run out to Whatcom Falls Park via Lakeway like they normally do before backtracking to Woburn Street and then proceed north to the terminus at the Barkley Village shopping center.

Route 512 (Downtown to Sudden Valley) also provides access to Whatcom Falls Park along Lakeway at stops it shares with Route 525 at Clearbrook Drive, Kenoyer Drive, and Roland Street.  

If you have questions about the bus detour, call the WTA's friendly customer service team at (360) 676-7433.

While transit access to Whatcom Falls Park will only be minimally impacted by the Route 525 detour, WTA riders will, however, have a longer trek to Bloedel Donovan Park (1214 Electric Avenue) on Lake Whatcom, and Big Rock Garden Park (2900 Sylvan Street near Balsam Lane) and its impressive collection of outdoor sculpture. 

Keep calm and carry on, Bellingham.