Dakota Creek bridge will get seismic retrofits

While significant earthquakes don’t happen very often in Whatcom County, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is making sure that if one does occur the Dakota Creek Bridge on Peace Portal Drive will be ready to rock and roll.

On February 11, Whatcom County Council approved funding for a seismic upgrade project in the amount of $2,718,268 in a 7–0 vote at the council’s regular meeting that will allow engineers to begin work on making the bridge earthquake-ready. The upgrade project is funded through federal money awarded to the state. Whatcom County will foot the initial bill, but be reimbursed, said assistant public works director Joe Rutan.