Work underway to improve fish passage

The state Department of Transportation is removing two culverts that run under Highway 9 in order to improve fish passage.

The culverts along an unnamed tributary to Nookachamps Creek east of Mount Vernon and and an unnamed tributary to Hansen Creek north of Sedro-Woolley will be replaced with fish-passable structures.

The work will cause traffic delays and detours.

The Department of Transportation began the $5.7 million project on June 29. Work at both sites is expected to be completed in mid-October.

North of Sedro-Woolley at about milepost 59 of Highway 9, traffic is alternating on a single lane until mid-August.

Travelers should expect delays, according to a news release.

The new structure being installed along the unnamed tributary to Hansen Creek will restore about a mile of natural habitat for coho salmon, resident trout, steelhead and sea-run cutthroat that are native to the area, the news release states.

In early August, there will be a weeklong full closure of Highway 9 at about milepost 49 east of Mount Vernon.

The detour route during this closure will direct traffic to use Highway 534 between Conway and Lake McMurray, Interstate 5, and College Way in Mount Vernon.

The detour route could add about 25 miles for travelers, according to the Department of Transportation.

The new culvert installed along the unnamed tributary to Nookachamps Creek will restore about a mile of natural habitat for bull trout, coho salmon, resident trout and steelhead, the news release states.

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