Ferndale is a city located on the Nooksack River in Whatcom County, Washington. The early alignment of US Route 99 in the community followed a winding course north of Bellingham which connected it with Main Street and 3rd Avenue in downtown Ferndale. The highway was significantly straightened on both sides of Ferndale by the early 1930s but was still aligned through downtown until a bypass expressway was constructed in 1955.
The 1955 era bypass of downtown was later expanded into part of Interstate 5 which replaced US Route 99 north of Bellingham to downtown Ferndale in 1960. The Interstate north of Ferndale to the outskirts of Blaine was completed in 1963. Despite US Route 99 being decommissioned in Washington State circa 1969 the freeway grade of Interstate 5 in Ferndale was not fully complete until the southbound Nooksack River Bridge opened in 1972.
US Route 99 initially inherited the alignment of the Pacific Highway through Ferndale which can be seen on 1927 Rand McNally Map of Washington State.
This blog is part of the larger Gribblenation US Route 99 Page. For more information pertaining to the other various segments of US Route 99 and its three-digit child routes check out the link the below.
Part 1; the history of US Route 99 in Blaine
What is now Ferndale was settled near the former site of a Lummi village along the east bank of the Nooksack River in 1872. The community was reportedly originally called "Jam" in reference to an infamous log jam point located nearby on the Nooksack River. The community would rename as Ferndale and would incorporate March 19, 1907.
In 1913 the Pacific Highway was established as an organized Auto Trail Association borne out of the Good Roads movement. Said Auto Trail was founded by Sam Hill who acted as the President of the Pacific Highway Association. The purpose of the Auto Trail was to create a singular Sign Route between San Diego, California north to Vancouver, British Columbia.
Within Washington the Pacific Highway was codified as a State Highway by way of 1913 Legislative Chapter 65.
The Pacific Highway was designated as Primary State Highway 1 by way of 1923 Legislative Chapter 185.
The Pacific Highway (4) and Evergreen National Highway (5) can be seen utilizing Primary State Highway 1 through Ferndale on 1925 Rand McNally map of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. Heading northbound from Bellingham the state highway corridor followed Northwest Avenue, Axton Road, a now removed part of Barret Road and La Bounty Drive to reach Main Street in Ferndale. The state highway corridor is shown passing through Ferndale via Main Street and departing the community via 3rd Avenue and Vista Drive. North of Ferndale the early state highway alignment followed Vista Drive and Valley View Road to the western outskirts of Custer near Blaine.
The US Route System was formally approved by the American Association of State Highway Engineers (AASHO) on November 11, 1926. which formally brought US Route 99 into existence. US Route 99 overlaid the existing Pacific Highway (in Washington) and Primary State Highway 1. The description of US Route 99 can be seen on the November 11, 1926, AASHO descriptions of the US Routes in Washington State.
US Route 99 initially inherited the alignment of the Pacific Highway through Ferndale which can be seen on 1927 Rand McNally Map of Washington State.
The above-mentioned realignment of US Route 99 can be seen on the 1931 Washington Department of Highways map.
In 1955 US Route 99 was shifted onto a bypass of downtown Ferndale. A new alignment was constructed northwest from La Bounty Drive via a truss span over the Nooksack River which connected directly to Portal Way. The former surface routing of the highway in downtown Ferndale was not retained as a Business Route.
US Route 99 can be seen bypassing downtown Ferndale on the 1956 Shell Highway map of Washington.
On June 29, 1956, the Federal Highway Aid Act of 1956 was signed into law on the Federal Level. The Federal Highway Aid Act of 1956 was the genesis point of the Interstate Highway System which would in the coming decade sew the demise via of US Route 99 in Washington via replacement by Interstate 5.
The first five miles of Interstate 5 north of Bellingham expanded the existing alignment of US Route 99 to Portal Way north of downtown Ferndale. This segment of the freeway opened to traffic on December 5, 1960. The ribbon cutting ceremony for this segment was featured in the December 5, 1960, Bellingham Hearld. The left newspaper photo shows US Route 99 co-signed with Interstate 5.
Interstate 5 north of Ferndale to the Peace Arch Border Crossing constructed in two segments. The first segment extending from Dakota Creek southward 11 miles towards Ferndale opened on October 29, 1963. The second segment from Dakota Creek north to the Peace Arch Border Crossing opened on November 23, 1965. The terminus of Interstate 5 is described in a Vancouver Sun article days prior to opening to traffic. The freeway grade is cited to stop approximately 400 feet from the border.
On June 24, 1969, the AASHO Executive Commitee approved a request by the Washington State Highway Commission to eliminate US Route 99 in Washington. The Washington State Highway Commission approved a motion to eliminate US Route 99 on April 22, 1969. The justification to eliminate US Route 99 in Washington State was to avoid confusion and cost associated with signing the highway concurrent on much of Interstate 5.
Interstate 5 in Ferndale wasn't completed until 1972. Prior to said year the freeway bottlenecked at the Nooksack River and used the existing 1955-era truss span. In 1972 a twin truss span was constructed at the river which became the southbound lanes. The 1955 era truss now carries northbound traffic exclusively.
Part 2; exploring former US Route 99 in Ferndale
As noted in Part 1 the northbound truss span carrying Interstate 5 over the Nooksack River was constructed in 1955 as part of the then new US Route 99 bypass of downtown Ferndale. The span would have connected with Portal Way which is now accessible via Exit 263.
US Route 99 from the early 1930s through 1955 entered Ferndale southbound via Portal Way and 2nd Avenue. This alignment is accessible from Interstate 5 Exit 263.
The 1930s-1955 era alignment of US Route 99 southbound entered downtown Ferndale 3rd Avenue passing the original alignment at Vista Drive. US Route 99 southbound made a left-hand turn at Main Street.
US Route 99 southbound followed Main Street over the Nooksack River. The current Main Street Bridge was constructed in 1950 and is a tee beam design.
Southbound US Route 99 followed Main Street out of downtown Ferndale to what is now La Bounty Drive. Much of the previous connectivity along the former alignments of US Route 99 beyond La Bounty Road was severed by the construction of Interstate 5. The Burlington North Underpass present now on Main Street was constructed in 1960.
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