Latest news with #RBMcKeon
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Third time's a charm? Bellingham's infamous I-5 sloth returns
The infamous sloth stuffed animal seen in the trees near Bellingham is back. And it appears he will be hanging around for a while. Someone on the Bellingham Reddit page spotted the sloth at the end of last month, posting a video of its new location: The Washington State Department of Transportation confirmed that a third stuffed animal mysteriously made it into a tree along I-5. In March, WSDOT crews removed the original sloth, dubbed 'Slothy,' after it spent nearly a year hanging out in a 90-foot tree. Although cute to look at, WSDOT deemed it a dangerous distraction for drivers. 'Let's keep our 8-foot stuffed animals in their proper habitats: on a bed made for giants, not near our right of way. Leave the tree-dwelling to real sloths and keep your eyes on the road ahead,' wrote the agency in an online post. One month later? A second sloth showed up. Same size. Same spot. But a different sloth. Once again, crews removed it. KIRO 7 reached out to WSDOT about the third sloth. 'We regret that individuals have continued to compromise their safety and the safety of the public to put these up in trees,' WSDOT Communications Manager RB McKeon wrote. 'The removal of the sloth at this location presents additional challenges, risk, and puts additional strain on already limited resources.' At this time, it remains a mystery who is putting the sloths in the trees and how they are getting up there to do it. McKeon told KIRO 7 that WSDOT crews will keep an eye on the cuddly creature, but at this time, 'does not plan to take further action.'
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bellingham's landmark I-5 sloth can stay for now, WSDOT says
Bellingham's beloved stuffed fake sloth, situated high in the trees on northbound Interstate 5 south of Bellingham, will remain there for the time being. 'Crews will continue to monitor but at this time, WSDOT does not plan to take further action,' said Washington State Department of Transportation Communication Manager RB McKeon in a May 6 news release. WSDOT recently began removing stuffed sloths from trees on northbound Interstate 5 about a mile and a half south of Fairhaven. The first sloth, which became known as a popular landmark among Whatcom County locals, was removed on March 18 after originally being put up by an unknown person. A short while later, a second sloth was put up, only to be taken down again by WSDOT. At the time, WSDOT said the sloth was distracting for drivers. Since then, a third sloth has been seen in the trees, much higher up than the other two. McKeon said the sloth is likely to remain, stating that the resources needed to remove it would require the closure of I-5 to stage equipment for crews to safely reach the stuffed animal, which would put additional strain on already limited WSDOT resources. 'We regret that individuals have continued to compromise their safety and the safety of the public to put these up in trees,' McKeon said in the release. It is still largely unknown who has been putting the sloths in the trees, or how they are getting them up there. The third sloth was first reported on the Bellingham Reddit page on April 27, with many comments in support of keeping the sloth in the trees. 'In a world that gives me so many reasons to be down, seeing this makes my day just a little bit brighter and gives me the hope that I need,' one comment said. 'Kinda silly, but these days I'll take what I can get.' 'Even (though) I don't condone the sloth, this is so so so impressive,' read another comment on a different post about the sloth. 'At this point, WSDOT should permit the sloth.' Some people around Bellingham have taken to leaving additional stuffed sloths around town, recent internet posts appear to show. One sloth made it onto the 'Signs Plus' sign on Marine Drive.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Main Street bridge in Ferndale will be reduced to one lane Monday for repairs
The Pioneer (Main Street) Bridge in Ferndale is undergoing a routine inspection Monday, April 21, which will reduce the road to a single lane, with flaggers alternating the flow of traffic, according to a news release from the city of Ferndale. The traffic revision is scheduled to last from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday. To avoid the traffic downtown, the city suggests drivers use either the Interstate 5 exit 260 at Slater Road or the 263 exit at Portal Way. The city of Ferndale is guiding traffic during the inspection, which is being conducted by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). 'Our inspection team will be utilizing one of our Under Bridge Inspection Trucks (UBIT) to access the undersides of the structure over the Nooksack River,' said RB McKeon, WSDOT communications manager. The bridge was built in 1950 and is currently rated as satisfactory to good condition. However, there have been several open repair recommendations made, McKeon told The Herald. Also Monday, repairs to West Smith Road in Ferndale will be reduced to a single lane of traffic between Saratoga Place and Byers Road from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Drivers should expect delays, as flaggers will be coordinating alternating traffic flow through the work zone.
