SR 202/Sammamish River fish passage

Project overview

Two culverts near the intersection of State Route 202 and Northeast 124th Street between Redmond and Woodinville will be replaced with a single culvert. Two creeks in the area — an unnamed tributary of the Sammamish River and High School Creek — will be realigned to merge with the new, larger culvert just north of the intersection. This work is part of our commitment to remove fish barriers on streams that run under state highways.

Timeline

Fall 2021 – Summer 2024

Project status

Pre-construction

Funding

$6.79 million

What to expect

Construction is expected to begin in 2024 and will require closures on SR 202. WSDOT is working with local jurisdictions to determine the length and duration of closures.

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Two creeks will be reconfigured to join at one new culvert just north of the intersection of SR 202 and Northeast 124th Street.

History and background

This work is part of our fish passage program. Replacing the existing culverts will remove barriers to fish migration and expand healthy fish habitat. The unnamed tributary is 67 percent blocked to fish, while High School Creek is considered to be completely blocked.

The two streams will be realigned to merge and flow through a large culvert. Crews will then rebuild stream beds and improve creek channels. Replacing the culverts with a larger alternative will improve access to 3.5 miles of new habitat for the various trout and salmon species that use these creeks.

Rebuilding this habitat will help restore fish runs and increase fish populations. This benefits commercial seafood operations, recreational fishers, and provides more food for our declining orca population. In addition, replacing these fish barriers helps us meet our obligation to remove barriers under the 2013 U.S. District Court injunction.

Design work began in 2021. Construction work will begin in 2024 and the new fish passages will be complete the same year.

Milestone

2022

Design

January 2024

Contract awarded to Scarsella Bros. Inc.

Summer 2024

Begin construction

Fall 2024

Complete construction

Map showing the existing creek formations.

This image shows the current configuration of the two creeks. The northernmost creek, an unnamed tributary of the Sammamish River run east to west under SR 202. High School Creek currently crosses diagonally under the intersection of SR 202 and Northeast 124th Street.

Map of the planned configuration of the two creeks

This image shows the planned configuration of the two creeks. They will be joined at a single culvert just north of the intersection of SR 202 and Northeast 124th Street.

A photo of the current blocked culvert at the unnamed tributary.

The current culvert at the unnamed tributary is 67 percent blocked.

Photo of the current culvert at High School Creek.

The current High School Creek culvert is completely impassable to fish.

SR 202/Sammamish River fish passage

Project overview

What to expect

History and background

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