SR 202 Skunk Creek and SR 203 Unnamed Tributaries to Snoqualmie River - Fish Passage

Project overview

As part of the state's fish recovery efforts, WSDOT has made it a priority to reconnect waterways where roads act as barriers. In Western Washington, that means replacing culverts and building hundreds of bridges and structures beneath state highways by 2030 to open more habitat for native and migrating fish.

This project will remove barriers to fish passage at four locations where culverts prevented fish from swimming upstream. Those locations are along an unnamed tributary to Horseshoe Lake at SR 203 and Northeast Carnation Farm Road north of Carnation; Skunk Creek and an unnamed tributary to Skunk Creek where they cross beneath SR 202 and Southeast Fish Hatchery Road near Southeast 46th Street in Fall City; and along an unnamed tributary to the Snoqualmie River running beneath SR 203 near 324th Way Northeast south of Carnation.

Construction on this fish passage project began in mid-2023. Work will be complete in all locations in mid-2025. As of February 2025, construction is complete on SR 203 near Northeast Carnation Farm Road and SR 202 and Southeast Fish Hatchery Road near Southeast 46th Street. Construction is scheduled to finish on SR 203 near 324th Way Northeast in mid-2025.

What to expect

This project is being combined into a single contract with two other fish passage projects on I-90 and SR 161. Construction is scheduled to occur from 2023-2026 in all locations.

SR 202 and Southeast Fish Hatchery Road in Fall City:

• The new SR 202 bridge over Skunk Creek opened in July 2024.
• The new Southeast Fish Hatchery Road bridge over Skunk Creek opened in November 2024. 

SR 203 near 324th Way Northeast south of Carnation:

• Construction on a new bridge over an unnamed tributary to the Snoqualmie River was completed in January 2025.
• The intersection of SR 203 and 324th Way Northeast reopened in February 2025 with a new alignment designed to improve visibility for vehicles entering and exiting the state highway.  
• Construction occurring within the waterway itself will begin in summer 2025 and last for about eight weeks.
• Daytime single-lane closures with alternating traffic will be necessary during construction occurring within the waterway. 

SR 203 near Northeast Carnation Farm Road north of Carnation:

• Construction on a new fish-passable culvert along SR 203 near Northeast Carnation Farm Road was completed in August 2023.