SR 169 will reduce to one lane near Jones Lake in Black Diamond from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night from Monday, Aug. 10, through Friday morning, Aug. 14, for site preparation. Flaggers will alternate traffic through the work zone each night.
Both directions of SR 169 will fully close around the clock between Southeast 332nd Street and Plass Road near Jones Lake starting at 12:01 am. Monday, Aug. 17. The closure will remain in place for 35 days for fish barrier removal.
Project overview
In August 2026, WSDOT will begin installing five new fish-passable structures to carry creeks and tributaries beneath SR 169 in Black Diamond.
During the 2026 construction season, this project will correct two culverts near Jones Lake that block fish from swimming upstream. These culverts carry Rock Creek and an unnamed tributary to Jones Lake beneath SR 169.
During the 2027 construction season, crews will replace a culvert that carries an unnamed tributary to Jones Lake beneath SR 169 north of SE 332nd Street before shifting their focus to two additional culverts north of the historic downtown. This phase of work will correct culverts beneath SR 169 at Black Diamond-Ravensdale Road and on Black Diamond-Ravensdale Road near SR 169. These culverts carry Ginder Creek and a tributary to Ginder Creek beneath SR 169.
Reconnecting waterways where our roads act as barriers is a priority for WSDOT. In western Washington, that means building hundreds of fish passable structures under state highways to create habitat essential for meeting fish recovery goals.
These new fish passage structures will greatly benefit the chum, coho, resident trout, steelhead and sea-run cutthroat that use these creeks. Replacing these culverts creates a combined potential habitat gain of 4.6 miles for native and migrating fish.
What to expect
2026 construction season
In August 2026, contractor crews will begin correcting two culverts beneath SR 169 that carry Rock Creek and an unnamed tributary to Jones Lake. Work will primarily happen between Plass Road and Jones Lake Road.
- Single-lane, overnight closures on SR 169 will begin in early August for utility relocations and site preparations.
- Both directions of SR 169 will fully close between Plass Road and Southeast 332nd Street for about 35 days starting as soon as Aug. 17, 2026.
- Signed detours will guide people around the work zone, with separate routes for passenger vehicles and freight traffic.
- Local access will be permitted, and homes and businesses in this area will remain accessible.
- Construction will continue through fall 2026 then pause until spring 2027.
- Both directions of SR 169 will be open through the fall and winter near Jones Lake.
2027 construction season
In spring 2027, contractor crews will resume construction. Crews will likely start by replacing the third culvert carrying an unnamed tributary to Jones Lake. The timeline for construction has not been finalized yet.
- Both directions of SR 169 will close at Jones Lake Road and South 332nd Street for about 25 days.
- Signed detours will guide people around the work zone, with separate routes for passenger vehicles and freight traffic.
- Local access will permitted, and homes and businesses in this area will remain accessible.
Once construction is complete near Jones Lake, crews will shift the work zone to the intersection of SR 169 and Black Diamond-Ravensdale Road. There, they will replace a culvert that carries Ginder Creek and a tributary to Ginder Creek beneath SR 169.
- Both directions of SR 169 will close near the intersection with Black Diamond-Ravensdale Road for up to 60 days.
- Full or partial lane closures are possible along Black Diamond-Ravensdale Road near the intersection with SR 169.
- Signed detours will guide people around the closures.
- Local access will be permitted, and homes and businesses in this area will remain accessible.
- Construction will continue into fall 2027 then pause until spring 2028.
- Both directions of SR 169 will be open through the late fall and winter near Black Diamond-Ravensdale Road.
2028 construction season
Crews will resume construction in spring 2028. They will work to complete remaining work at both project locations, complete final paving and lane striping as needed and work to finish the project in October 2028. This schedule depends on favorable weather during the 2026 and 2027 construction seasons and could change.
A map showing the location of five culverts that cross beneath SR 169 in Black Diamond that will be replaced starting in mid-2026.
To protect and restore fish runs, WSDOT is correcting fish barriers found under state highways. Since 1991, when WSDOT created a dedicated program, 365 barriers have been corrected, opening a total of 1,215 miles of fish habitat.
We will replace existing culverts with new fish passable structures. Opening habitat allows more salmon and steelhead at all life stages, including juveniles that aren’t yet strong swimmers like adults, to access important spawning and rearing habitat, including areas that haven’t been accessed in years.
Improvements to fish passage also benefits commercial seafood operations, recreational fishers, and provides more food for our declining orca population. In addition, replacing these culverts helps us meeting our obligation to remove barriers under a 2013 U.S. District Court injunction.
