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 fish-passable structures under state highways by 2030 to create more habitat which is essential for meeting fish recovery goals.

Starting in mid-2023, WSDOT will build larger fish passages to restore natural stream conditions in Skunk Creek and an unnamed tributary to Skunk Creek where they cross under SR 202 and Southeast Fish Hatchery Road near Fall City. WSDOT will also build two more structures to carry an unnamed tributary to the Snoqualmie River and an unnamed tributary to Horseshoe Lake under SR 203 near Carnation.

What to expect

Replacing the culverts may take up to two years. 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 culverts at Skunk Creek and Southeast Fish Hatchery Road in Fall City:

• Construction began April 1, 2024, on the fish barrier removal project at Skunk Creek. 
• Southeast Fish Hatchery Road closed to through-traffic between 361st Avenue Southeast and 356th Drive Southeast for up to six months. Local access will be permitted on either side of the closure. 
• In late-April 2025, a temporary bypass opened on SR 202 that routes both lanes of traffic around the work zone. The speed limit reduced to 40 mph through the area. 
• The the new bridge on SR 202 opened on July 29, returning the highway to its original configuration.
• As of early August, contract crews began building a bridge over Skunk Creek on Fish Hatchery Road. Work will continue into late 2024, at which time the road will reopen in its normal configuration. 

SR 203 culvert at 324th Way Northeast in Carnation:

• Utility work on SR 203 started in July 2024, requiring intermittent single-lane closures near 324th Way Northeast. 
• Major construction began Aug. 5, 2024, and will last for up to six months. 
• A section of 324th Way Northeast between SR 203 and Northeast 16th Street closed Aug. 5, 2024. It will remain closed for the duration of the project. 
• Weekday SR 203 single-lane closures near 324th Way Northeast will continue into late 2024. Flaggers will alternate traffic through the work zone.
• During nights and weekends, both lanes of SR 203 will remain open with a temporary detour at 324th Way Northeast. The speed limit on SR 203 reduced to 25 mph through the work zone. 
• Cyclists and pedestrians are detouring around the work zone using Northeast 16th Street, the Snoqualmie Valley Trail and Northeast 24th Street. 
• 324th Way Northeast will reopen in late 2024 with new intersection alignment to improve visibility for people turning onto SR 203.

SR 203 culvert at unnamed tributary to Horseshoe Lake:

• Construction on a new fish-passable culvert on SR 203 near Northeast Carnation Farm Road was completed in August 2023 during a 56-hour highway closure. Guardrail upgrades were completed in August 2024, and permanent fencing is scheduled to be installed around the culvert in late September 2024.