Project overview
Reconnecting waterways where our roads act as barriers is a priority for the state. In western Washington, that means building hundreds of fish passable structures under state highways to create habitat essential for meeting fish recovery goals. Beginning as soon as early 2026, WSDOT will begin installing new fish passable structures that carry five creeks and tributaries beneath SR 169 to the north and south of Black Diamond.
Located north of Black Diamond, there are two culverts that allow Ginder Creek and an unnamed tributary to pass under SR 169 near Roberts Drive.
South of Black Diamond, east of Jones Lake, there are three streams that flow into the lake: Rock Creek, and two unnamed tributaries.
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 north and south of Black Diamond creates a combined potential habitat gain of 4.6 miles.
What to expect
In late 2024, WSDOT selected a Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. as its design-build contractor for this project along SR 169. That contract includes development of the final construction plans at each of the five culvert locations. The construction methods used in each location will determine what traffic control is necessary in each location, as well as any road closures or potential detours. We will release this information when we have a final design.
Major construction could start as soon as spring 2026 at the Rock Creek location south of Black Diamond. Work at the Ginder Creek location north of Black Diamond likely will not begin before 2027. Culvert replacement work on SR 169 could take up to two years in each location.
A map showing the location of two culverts that cross under SR 169 north of Black Diamond.
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.
