Full closure of SR-99 in Federal Way Aug. 14-17 to place new culvert
Published 5:06 pm Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Drivers who use Pacific Highway South (State Route 99) in Federal Way will need to use alternate routes Aug. 14-17 when a new culvert is placed under the highway.
Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will close both directions of SR-99 from Southwest 356th Street to South 373rd Street.
Both directions of the highway will close at 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14. One lane in each direction may close at 7 p.m. The highway will reopen at 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 17.
Local access to driveways inside the closure will be available, but no through-traffic allowed.
After the highway is closed, crews will remove about 100 feet of roadway to install the new 10-by-20 foot culvert for West Fork Hylebos Creek.
Drivers will follow a six-mile detour to Interstate 5 during the closure, which will add about 10 minutes to their travel time.
The new culvert will allow several types of fish, including Chinook, coho and chum salmon to more easily navigate up and down West Fork Hylebos Creek.
Workers are also rebuilding the streambed to improve fish habitat. The existing stream is too fast and water is rushing over large drops, making it nearly impassable for fish.
“To enhance habitat and improve the fish population, we need to slow the flow of water by realigning the stream, adding curves and woody debris,” said Department of Transportation project engineer Mike Askarian.
When the $2.7 million project is completed this fall, fish will be able to access several additional miles of the creek and eventually make their way into the West Hylebos Wetland Park to the north.
The existing culvert was installed in 1925 and measures only 6-by-6 feet. After the new culvert is installed, the old one will be filled, capped and left in place.
