SR 169 – Rock Creek, Ginder Creek and unnamed tributaries – fish passage
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On this page: Overview | Project timeline | Jones Lake | Ginder Creek | What is a culvert? | How to stay informed | Get in touch
Overview
Starting in August 2026, the Washington State Department of Transportation will begin construction on a fish barrier removal project along State Route 169 in the city of Black Diamond.
Over the next two years, contractor crews will remove five culverts that prevent fish from swimming upstream. Our contractor will replace each culvert with a larger fish-passable structure that restores natural stream conditions beneath the state highway.
The five culverts that will be corrected during this project are clustered together on separate parts of SR 169.Three of these culverts are located near Jones Lake, which will be corrected in mid-2026 and mid-2027. The other two are along Ginder Creek and a tributary, near the intersection of SR 169 and Black Diamond-Ravensdale Road. Culverts in this location will be corrected starting in mid-2027.
All construction should be finished by late 2028. These timelines are tentative and could change based on weather, site conditions and other factors.
This work will require SR 169 roadway closures during summer 2026 and summer 2027. Signed detours will guide people around construction. Closing all lanes of SR 169 will allow crews to complete construction more quickly and efficiently than would be possible by leaving a single travel lane open. This will reduce the length of overall disruption to neighbors, residents and commuters.
This fish passage project will open nearly 4.6 miles of potential upstream habitat for native and migrating fish. Fish that may be present in these streams include chum salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, resident trout and sea-run cutthroat.
These efforts represent WSDOT’s ongoing work to comply with state laws and restore fish habitat under a 2013 federal court injunction. They also support the agency’s ongoing commitment to upgrading culverts that block salmon and steelhead habitat.
The five culverts that will be corrected during this project are clustered together on separate parts of SR 169.
Project timeline
2026 construction season
During the 2026 construction season, crews will begin correcting two fish passage barriers beneath SR 169 near Jones Lake. Rock Creek and two unnamed tributaries to Jones Lake flow through three culverts beneath SR 169.
Construction will pause in late fall 2026 until spring 2027, when crews will begin construction on the third and final culvert along SR 169 near Jones Lake.
2027 construction season
In mid-2027, crews will correct one blocking culvert near Jones Lake and two blocking culverts along SR 169 near the intersection of Black Diamond-Ravensdale Road. Ginder Creek and an unnamed tributary to Ginder Creek flow through these two culverts beneath SR 169 near Black Diamond-Ravensdale Road. Construction will pause in late fall until spring 2028.
2028 construction season
Construction will resume in spring 2028. Crews will finalize any remaining work for this project across both locations. Construction is expected to finish by late 2028.
Jones Lake – SR 169 at Jones Lake Road
This culvert carries an unnamed tributary to Jones Lake beneath SR 169. It will be replaced during this project. This culvert carries an unnamed tributary to Jones Lake beneath SR 169. It will be replaced during this project.
In 2026, crews working for WSDOT will begin installing three-sided box culverts at the following locations:
- SR 169 at Rock Creek
- SR 169 at Jones Lake South (unnamed tributary to Jones Lake)
In 2027, crews working for WSDOT will install a three-sided box culvert at the following location:
- SR 169 at Jones Lake North (unnamed tributary to Jones Lake)
Crews will dig beneath the roadway and remove existing culverts that prevent fish from swimming upstream. Then, they will install larger culvert structures and make habitat improvements beneath and around the state highway.
Both directions of SR 169 will be closed for about two months in this area. Local access will be allowed on SR 169, but through traffic will need to follow signed detours.
What to expect during construction
- Early summer 2026
Intermittent single-lane closures on SR 169 will start in early August for utility work and site preparations. Weeknight lane closures are likely, with flaggers alternating traffic through the work zone. - Summer/fall 2026
Both directions of SR 169 will close around the clock for about 35 days near Jones Lake starting in mid-August. Crews will remove existing culverts in two locations and construct a new roadway with fish-passable structures. - Fall/winter 2026-2027
Construction will pause in fall 2026, allowing both directions of SR 169 to remain open. - Spring/summer 2027
Crews will complete installation of the new culvert along SR 169 at Jones Lake North. Both directions of SR 169 will close for about 28 days to install the new culvert structure.
Detour details
These detours will be active for about two months starting in mid-2027 for construction at the intersection of SR 169 and Black Diamond-Ravensdale Road. Local access will be permitted, but through traffic must follow detour routes.The following detours will be in place in 2026 and 2027 when SR 169 near Jones Lake is closed for construction.
Passenger vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists:
- Northbound: Traffic will be directed to Southeast Green Valley Road. The signed detour will rejoin SR 169 at Roberts Drive.
- Southbound: Traffic will be directed to Roberts Drive. The signed detour will rejoin SR 169 at Southeast Green Valley Road.
Semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles:
- Northbound: Traffic will be directed to Southeast 400th Street. The signed detour will rejoin SR 169 at Roberts Drive.
- Southbound: Traffic will be directed to Roberts Drive. The signed detour will rejoin SR 169 at Southeast 400th Street.
These detours will be active for about 35 days starting in mid-August 2026 and about 28 days in mid-2027 for fish barrier removal at three locations near Jones Lake Road. Local access will be permitted during the road closure.
Ginder Creek – SR 169 at Black Diamond-Ravensdale Road
Existing culverts carrying an unnamed tributary to Ginder Creek beneath SR 169 will be replaced during this project.Existing culverts carrying an unnamed tributary to Ginder Creek beneath SR 169 will be replaced during this project.
In 2027, contractor crews working for WSDOT will install three-sided box culverts at the following locations:
- Ginder Creek where it crosses beneath SR 169
- An unnamed tributary to Ginder Creek where it crosses beneath Black Diamond-Ravensdale Road
SR 169 and Black Diamond-Ravensdale Road will be closed for about two months in this area. Contractor crews will remove existing culverts that block fish from swimming upstream and install new, larger culverts in their place.
Crews also will make habitat improvements beneath and around the state highway and relocate a 60-inch waterline.
Local access will be allowed on SR 169 and Black Diamond-Ravensdale Road, but through traffic will need to follow signed detours around the work zone.
What to expect during construction
- Spring/summer 2027
Both directions of SR 169 will close around the clock for about two months at Ginder Creek, near the intersection of SR 169 and Black Diamond-Ravensdale Road. Both directions of Black Diamond-Ravensdale Road will close for about two months near the intersection with SR 169. Crews will remove existing culverts and construct a new roadway with fish-passable structures. - Fall/winter 2027-2028
Construction will pause in fall 2027, allowing both directions of SR 169 to remain open. - Spring/summer 2028
Crews will finalize remaining work at SR 169 and Black Diamond-Ravensdale Road.
Detour details
The following detours will be in place when SR 169 and Black Diamond-Ravensdale Road are closed for construction.
- Northbound SR 169: Traffic will be directed to Roberts Drive. The signed detour will rejoin SR 169 at Southeast 288th Street.
- Southbound SR 169: Traffic will be directed to Southeast 288th Street. The signed detour will rejoin SR 169 at Roberts Drive.
- Black Diamond-Ravensdale Road: Traffic will go north on Black Diamond-Ravensdale Road to 268th Avenue Southeast and Southeast Kent-Kangley Road. Local access will be permitted south of 268th Avenue Southeast.
These detours will be active for about two months starting in mid-2027 for construction at the intersection of SR 169 and Black Diamond-Ravensdale Road. Local access will be permitted, but through traffic must follow detour routes.
What is a culvert?
Three-sided box culverts like this one, installed along an unnamed tributary to Big Creek in Grays Harbor County, will be installed in all five locations in Black Diamond.Three-sided box culverts like this one, installed along an unnamed tributary to Big Creek in Grays Harbor County, will be installed in all five locations in Black Diamond.
Culverts are essentially pipes that allow water to move beneath a roadway. Some culverts beneath state highways may create a barrier to fish swimming upstream. The water might be too swift, too shallow or have a waterfall into or out of the culvert.
Fish passable structures such as a culvert or bridge are typically installed to restore natural stream conditions. Installation can only be done during brief periods each summer to minimize impacts to fish at sensitive life stages.
The new structures planned for Black Diamond will be larger than the existing culverts and open potential upstream habitat that is currently blocked.
Fish barrier removal projects benefit fish at all life cycles and create more natural stream conditions. These structures will also allow other animals to pass under the highway, potentially reducing conflicts between vehicles and animals.
How to stay informed
Get in touch
Project hotline: 253-943-4202
Casey Conley
WSDOT Communications
206-718-4182
Casey.Conley@wsdot.wa.gov