The reopening date for SR 104/Ballinger Way is dependent on dry weather for crews to complete paving around the newly installed culvert across Lyon Creek. Paving could begin as early as Friday, Nov. 7, but the reopening date remains weather dependent.
Project overview
This project will remove a fish passage barrier on State Route 104 at Lyon Creek just west of 35th Avenue Northeast in Lake Forest Park. Contractor crews working for WSDOT will replace an existing 6-foot-by-4-foot box culvert with a new 24-foot-wide structure. This new structure has the potential to open more than 7.5 miles of habitat for Chinook, coho, steelhead, sockeye, sea-run cutthroat and resident trout.
What to expect
Closure details
Construction on the SR 104 Lyon Creek fish passage project began in early July 2025. It is projected to be complete in late fall 2025, although final paving and permanent lane striping could shift into spring 2026, depending on the weather.
All lanes on SR 104/Ballinger Way Northeast closed just west of 35th Avenue Northeast starting Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. The closure will be in place 24 hours a day until work is complete in mid-November.
During the closure, crews will remove the existing culvert that carries Lyon Creek beneath SR 104. They will build a new, much larger culvert structure across all lanes of the state highway. During the closure, detours will be in place for vehicles and pedestrians.
Construction will occur up to 24 hours a day during the full closure on SR 104.
Overnight single-lane closures also are planned through November 2025 to complete sewer work on 35th Avenue Northeast and adjacent local streets.
Detour details
The vehicle detour will use 35th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 195th Street. Local access on SR 104/Ballinger Way will be maintained as far east as project work zone, which will be located just west of 35th Avenue Northeast.
Bicycle and pedestrians will follow a signed detour using 35th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 190th Street during the 35-day closure on SR 104/Ballinger Way NE.
This project will improve fish passage under SR 104 west of 35th Avenue Northeast in Lake Forest Park.
This work is part of our fish passage program. Replacing the existing culverts and rebuilding the stream channels expands healthy fish habitat; an important step in restoring fish runs and increasing populations. This benefits commercial seafood operations and recreational fishers and provides more food for a declining orca population. Additionally, replacing these fish barriers helps us meet our obligation to remove barriers under the 2013 U.S. District Court injunction.
