Project news

• Crews are nearing the final phase of construction for the new concrete girder bridge that spans Kilisut Harbor along State Route 116 in Jefferson County. Final paving is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 1 during daytime hours. The bridge is anticipated to open to two-way traffic late fall of 2020. At that time, the temporary bypass lane around the construction site will be removed along with the temporary traffic signal. 
• View construction progress photos. 

Needs & benefits

The goal of this project, spearheaded by the North Olympic Salmon Coalition (NOSC) and funded by its partners, is to restore historic tidal channels and fish runs between southern Kilisut Harbor and Oak Bay in Jefferson County by creating approximately 2,300 acres of productive habitat in Puget Sound. WSDOT will administer the construction contract to build the new bridge to replace the existing causeway, which has been identified as a barrier to fish. WSDOT and NOSC aim to re-establish major northern and southern migratory fish channels for juvenile and adult salmonoids, including ESA-listed Hood Canal summer Chum, Puget Sound Chinook and Puget Sound Steelhead.  

This work is part of WSDOT’s Fish Passage Barrier Removal Program, which identifies and removes barriers to fish caused by culverts under state highways. WSDOT works in partnership with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to identify culverts that, once replaced, will increase fish habitat.

During construction, travelers will encounter reduced speeds and one-way alternating traffic at the work zone throughout the entirety of the project. Any total roadway closures will be announced in advance.

The End Result 

The new bridge will sport 11-foot lanes with four-foot shoulders. Crews will accommodate traffic while improving local fish migration and restoring the estuary to a more natural state.

Timeline

• May 2019: Advertise contract for competitive bids
• June 19, 2019: Contract awarded to Cascade Bridge LLC.
• Aug. 5, 2019: Construction begins
• Mid-Sept. 2019: Traffic will alternate using a temporary signal around-the-clock through project completion
• July 2020: Traffic switched over onto the new bridge
• Fall 2020: Most work is complete