What Nearby Owners Should Know
If you drive Main Street east of Barrett Road, you know the stretch: narrow lanes, no real sidewalks, and pavement that takes a beating every winter. Good news, it’s getting a full rebuild. We’ve had a few clients ask what it means for homes nearby, so here’s a plain-English rundown of what’s planned, when, and what to expect.
What’s being built
The City of Ferndale plans to rebuild and widen Main Street from Barrett Road east to Old Settler Drive and bring it up to current standards. According to the city’s project page and the hearing examiner’s decision, the plan includes:
- A center turn lane so left turns don’t back up traffic
- New sidewalks and crosswalks where there are none today
- A 5-foot shoulder between the road and sidewalk for bikes
- New streetlights, aimed at the roadway to limit glare into yards
- Bus pullouts at stops
- Upgraded water, sewer and stormwater lines, plus treatment for road runoff headed toward Tenmile Creek and Barrett Lake
The project also swaps out an old culvert on a small creek for a fish-friendly one, reopening about 330 feet of stream habitat.
Plenty of Ferndale’s edges still look like this: no sidewalk, just a shoulder. (Douglas Road shown.) Photo: Robert Ashworth.
Where things stand
The project cleared a big step this fall. After a Sept. 29 public hearing, Ferndale’s hearing examiner approved the shoreline permit on Oct. 2, with conditions. No public comments were filed other than from government agencies. The city is still in design and has started acquiring the extra right-of-way it needs. That can include partial purchases or temporary construction easements from some private owners, handled under state and federal rules.
Construction is currently planned for 2027. Under the permit, work has to start within three years, with one possible one-year extension. The city hasn’t posted a start date or detour plan yet, so we’ll keep an eye out and share updates as they come.
Who’s paying for it
About $1.385 million comes from federal Surface Transportation Block Grant and Carbon Reduction grants. The rest comes from Ferndale’s voter-approved Transportation Benefit District, the city’s real estate excise tax, and its water, sewer and stormwater utility funds.
Expect a season of cones and fresh concrete before the finished product. (Example project, not Ferndale.) Photo: Atomic Taco.
What it means if you’re buying or selling nearby
During construction: Plan on traffic control, possible detours, noise and dust while crews work. The permit conditions call for dust control, covered trucks and work within the city’s legal construction hours. If you’re buying along the corridor, it’s worth asking how driveway access will be handled and timing your move around the work if you can.
If you’re selling: If the city has contacted you about right-of-way or a temporary easement, let your agent know early so buyers get the full picture up front. Surprises late in a deal are what slow things down.
After construction: The long-term payoff is a safer, easier street, with sidewalks for walking to bus stops, a turn lane for getting in and out of driveways, better lighting and a smoother road.
Thinking about buying or selling in Ferndale while this project moves forward? We’re happy to talk through timing and what to expect. Just reach out to our team.
Featured photo: hanging flower baskets on a streetlamp (similar to Ferndale’s downtown baskets), by Vaan Photography.