Next Weekend: State Route 202 Closures Planned Aug. 28, Sept. 11

SAMMAMISH, WA — A portion of State Route 202 will close during two upcoming weekends to allow contractors to replace culverts under the highway, improving conditions for fish passage.

According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, the existing culverts are narrow, causing the water to move too fast for salmon to move upstream. The new culverts will provide more salmon territory and breeding areas, which in turn will help marine life that depends on them as a food source.

Closure details:

• 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28 to 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 31: SR 202 at Patterson Creek between 244th Avenue Northeast and Ames Lake Road near Sammamish. Local traffic will detour via Northeast Ames Lake Road, Northeast Union Hill Road and 236th Avenue Northeast, adding about 4.5 miles to the trip.
• 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, to 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 14: SR 202 east of Patterson Creek Farm between 308th Avenue Southeast and Southeast 40th Street near Fall City. Local traffic will detour via West River Road, 24th Avenue Southeast, 309th Avenue Southeast and 31st Street Southeast, adding about a mile to the trip.

Because the stretch of highway has limited alternatives, trucks will need to use Interstate 90 during both weekends. WSDOT said locals will have access up to the creek in both directions, but no one will be permitted through the work zone.

Learn more about the Evans and Patterson creeks fish passage project here.