WSDOT to begin culvert replacement on Ballinger Way June 30, 2025
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will initiate a culvert replacement on Ballinger Way and 35th Ave NE starting June 30, 2025, aimed at enhancing fish passage. The project will replace a culvert that currently hinders fish movement with a new 24-foot-wide concrete structure, significantly improving habitat for Chinook, coho, steelhead, sockeye, and other fish species. Construction will take place up to seven days a week, mainly from 9 PM to 5 AM, leading to extensive road closures, including a planned 35-day closure on SR 104/Ballinger Way. WSDOT will establish signed detour routes to guide vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians around the construction areas, though access will be limited in work zones. Local transit services, including King County Metro, will also adjust bus stops during the project.
The project, valued at $8. 71 million, is expected to conclude in fall 2025, complying with a U. S. District Court ruling that mandates the removal of barriers to fish passage beneath state highways. This initiative reflects ongoing efforts to restore and enhance aquatic habitats in the region.
The project will open 7. 5 miles of potential upstream habitat for various fish species, contributing to ecological restoration in Lake Forest Park.