I-5 and SR 11 Padden Creek - Fish Passage - Complete Fall 2022

Padden Creek supports the runs of coho and chum salmon and migrating Chinook salmon and steelhead trout. Removing two barriers, one under SR 11 at 30th Street, the other under Interstate 5 south of the SR 11/Old Fairhaven Parkway on- and off-ramps, will improve habitat for migratory species and other wildlife along the 2.7 miles of Padden Creek between Padden Lake and Bellingham Bay. These two barriers currently have slopes that prevent fish passage. The contractor will replace the existing concrete box culvert at I-5 with fish passable bridges and the double concrete box culvert at SR 11 with a 20 foot single span concrete box culvert. Additional improvements will be made for those who use sidewalks and crosswalks at SR 11 and 30th Street. 

Why we are removing fish passage barriers

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. WSDOT Fish Barrier Correction is a priority.

History of teamwork

This project builds upon WSDOT’s existing partnership with the city of Bellingham. In 2015, we worked with the city to move a section of Padden Creek out of a 120-year-old tunnel. The project moved the creek into a new channel, restoring 2,300 feet of Padden Creek to improve fish habitat and reducing flooding risks to 159 homes in the Happy Valley neighborhood.