All lanes are now open at the remaining two fish passage sites on US 12 between Montesano and Elma. Expect occasional daytime lane closures for final work.
Project overview
This project replaced five outdated culverts under US 12 and State Route 8 in Grays Harbor County between Montesano and the Thurston County line for improved fish migration.
What to expect
All lanes are now open at all fish passage sites along US 12 and SR 8 between Montesano and the Thurston County line. Travelers can expect occasional daytime lane closures for final touches.
This project addressed multiple barriers to fish under US 12 and State Route 8 in Grays Harbor County between Montesano and the Thurston County line.
This project will replace five outdated culverts at the following locations:
US 12
- MP 12.36 – Camp Creek - Complete
- MP 17.56 – Unnamed Tributary to Wenzel Slough - Complete
- MP 19.17 – Unnamed Tributary to Vance Creek - Complete
SR 8
- MP 3.16 – Unnamed Tributary to Wildcat Creek - Complete
- MP 9.10 – Unnamed Tributary to Mox Chehalis Creek - Complete
The Camp Creek, Wenzel Slough, Vance Creek and Wildcat Creek locations were corrected with bridges. A new box culvert was installed at the Mox Chehalis Creek site. The new bridges and culvert allow fish to swim freely under the highway.
Correcting fish passage barriers is an important part of the state's efforts to protect and restore fish runs negatively affected by outdated culverts under state highways.
In 2013, a federal court injunction required the state to significantly increase the state’s efforts in removing state-owned culverts that block habitat for salmon, bull trout and steelhead.
