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Slater Road will be elevated above troublesome floodwaters. A new electric ferry will get people to Guemes Island. North Whatcom schools are getting safer routes for walkers and bicyclists.

Flush with higher-than-expected revenues, the Legislature last week added billions of dollars in spending to the state's construction and transportation budgets. Millions were earmarked for Whatcom and Skagit counties, for road projects, child-care centers and flood repairs.

The top big-ticket item the state is funding in Whatcom County is $10.1 million for restarting the Intalco aluminum smelter on Cherry Point. Nooksack Valley School District is getting $2 million for flood repairs, and $1.5 million will go toward the first phase of a new City Hall in Ferndale. 

A new child-care center at Laurel and Forest streets in Bellingham is now fully funded, with $773,000 from the state, Rep. Alex Ramel said.