The painted rock has served as a community message board along I-5 for more than 50 years.
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — The “Bellingham Rock” will not be relocated after all, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
The rock, a well-known landmark once visible from Interstate 5, was broken into pieces for removal and possible relocation. But “based on the way the rock broke apart, it will not be relocated,” WSDOT said in a statement.
The state is working on a way to distribute some pieces of the rock to people who are interested. Further details were not immediately available.
The painted rock has served as a community message board along I-5 for more than 50 years.
WSDOT said it needed to be removed so work can move forward on a project meant to restore fish passage at Friday, Lake and Chuckanut Creeks near Bellingham.
The agency said it reviewed several options, including leaving the rock in place or protecting it during construction, but those options were not workable because the rock was directly in the project footprint.
Once the rock was removed, it could not be put back near I-5 or nearby ramps. WSDOT said state and federal highway rules do not allow it to be placed in limited-access areas where it could lead to unsafe parking or people walking near the freeway.
The rock weighs more than 100 tons, and WSDOT said moving it in one piece would have come at a major cost and required specialized equipment and permits.
Private property was eventually identified as a possible place to relocate the rock. The plan was for the property’s owner to inspect the rock after it was broken into piece and decide whether to accept it.
If the property owner did not accept the rock, WSDOT said the plan was to distribute a limited number of pieces.
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