Holly Street turn lanes aim to remove pinch point in downtown Bellingham bike lane project

Holly Street in downtown Bellingham is returning to three lanes from Commercial to Bay streets, ending a “pinch point” that sometimes caused traffic congestion, sometimes for several blocks.

Public Works Department crews started on the project Monday morning to add dedicated left-turn and right-turn lanes from Holly onto Bay Street.

That move required shifting the bike lane and removing the “streateries” from a travel lane on that block, said Natalie Munro, spokeswoman for the Public Works Department.

“This is not the end of the Holly Street pilot,” Munro told The Bellingham Herald in an email. “We will be collecting data this month and will evaluate final design in the coming months. With the additional lane reopened on Holly, we are able to add that right turn lane back in to reduce traffic back-ups.”

Munro said the decision to move some streateries was part of a planned evolution of the program, and not solely a result of the Holly Street bike lane project.

“This change was anticipated as part of our ongoing assessment of the streatery program, with the pilot project merely expediting the timeline for these necessary adjustments. The community loves their local streateries, and we’re committed to keeping that spirit alive while also prioritizing important transportation needs,” Munro said.

Mayor Kim Lund announced the return of turn lanes at Holly and Bay streets in September.

Work was expected to be finished Monday.