LYNDEN – For thousands in Whatcom County, summer means one thing, the Northwest Washington Fair. But this summer will also bring improved access to habitat for the area’s native fish species. Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will remove several fish barriers and replace them with new passable structures around Lynden.
SR 546 Pepin Creek and Duffner Ditch Fish Passage project
Work began on a half-mile stretch of State Route 546 (East Badger Road) just east of SR 539 (Guide Meridian Road) earlier this month. Crews are replacing three culverts that will improve fish access to 8 miles of habitat.
Eastbound and westbound traffic on SR 546 will alternate through a single lane from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night through the morning of Friday, July 29. This traffic setup began Sunday night, July 24, so crews can remove existing pavement, work on the shoulder and prepare the stream before replacing the culverts.
From 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 1, through 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5, there will be a full closure of SR 546 from just east of SR 539 to just east of Double Ditch Road. During this 96-hour closure, crews will work around the clock to remove the old culverts underneath the highway ahead of the Northwest Washington Fair, which begins the following week. A signed detour will guide travelers around the work zone using SR 544, SR 9 and SR 539.
SR 546 Kamm Ditch Fish Passage project
Once work is complete on Pepin Creek and Duffner Ditch project, crews will move farther east and begin work on the Kamm Ditch project. Crews will remove the existing 6-foot by 4-foot box culvert and replace it with a 14-foot by 45-foot long box culvert.
To complete this work, crews will fully close SR 546 at milepost 4, just east of Northwood Road for 60 consecutive hours. A signed detour will guide travelers around the work zone using SR 544, SR 9 and SR 539. Travelers can expect to see advance warning signs of the closure posted five days before it begins so they can plan their route and adjust their travel accordingly. This closure will not coincide with the Northwest Washington Fair.
SR 544 Fourmile Creek Fish Passage project
This project will remove the existing barrier where the unnamed tributary to Fourmile Creek crosses under SR 544 (East Pole Road) just west of Noon Road. Crews will remove the existing 44-foot long, 24-inch diameter concrete pipe culverts and replace them with a 12-foot wide by 40-foot-long four-sided concrete box culvert, improving access to about two-thirds of a mile of fish habitat in this area.
During construction, crews will use low-density cellular concrete due to the poor nature of the soils in this area. This type of concrete comes with very specific requirements and as a result, there will be a 19-day full closure of SR 544 during construction, which is scheduled to begin after Labor Day in September. Detour signs will be posted five days in advance of the closure and will direct travelers around the work zone using SR 546, where crews will have finished work on the other two fish passage projects.
Travel tips and work zone safety
- Be patient and give yourself extra time – there will be increased traffic on all area roadways.
- Expect flaggers and temporary road limitations as well as shoulder or unexpected drop-offs, rough or uneven surfaces and construction equipment and heavy machinery.
- Follow all posted signs, reduced speed limits and the directions of traffic control officers.
- Night work is inherently more dangerous for everyone. Please be alert and don't drive distracted.
- Subscribe to the Mount Baker Area weekly e-newsletter for updates and closure information, follow @wsdot_north on Twitter and download the WSDOT app for alerts and information.
WSDOT's commitment to fish barrier removal
State highways cross streams and rivers in thousands of places in Washington state, which can impede fish migration. WSDOT has worked for nearly three decades to improve fish passage and reconnect streams to help keep our waterways healthy.
Correcting fish passage barriers is an important part of the state's effort to protect and restore fish rungs negatively affected by outdated culverts under and along state highways. A 2013 federal court injunction required WSDOT to significantly increase the state's effort in removing state-owned culverts that block habitat. Replacing outdated culverts with either bridges or fish passable structures will increase the likelihood of fish migration.