Three-year project replaces three old culverts with new bridge structures, opening 12 miles of habitat
PURDY – Work is about to get underway to help return Purdy Creek under State Routes 16 and 302 to a more natural state.
As early as Monday, Aug. 15, Kraemer North America crews, working for the Washington Department of Transportation, will begin work along SR 16 near Purdy Creek. People traveling in the area will begin to see orange construction cones and work activity on the shoulders and median of SR 16, between the eastbound and westbound exits to SR 302, from mileposts 17 to 18.
Work on westbound SR 16
In the coming weeks, travelers will see overnight single-lane closures while crews shift eastbound lanes of SR 16 to the outside shoulder. Once in place, eastbound SR 16 will have 11-foot lanes and two-foot-wide shoulders through the work zone.
This will create a larger median work zone where all westbound SR 16 lanes will eventually be moved. This is necessary so crews can remove the first of two old culverts under SR 16.
Once westbound SR 16 lanes are moved, the speed limit will be reduced to 45 mph from the current 60 mph between milepost 17.15 and milepost 18.
Work on SR 302 Spur
This fall, crews will set up a long-term detour for SR 302 Spur/Purdy Drive using Purdy Lane Northwest from 144th Street Northwest to the SR 302 Spur. Setting up the detour includes:
- Paving Purdy Lane Northwest.
- Installing a temporary signal at the intersection of 144th Street Northwest and Purdy Lane Northwest.
- The detour will be in place for a year while crews remove an old culvert under SR 302 Spur.
In the coming weeks, WSDOT will announce the dates for paving and when the detour will officially be in place on the statewide travel map and project webpage.
Improving fish passage
The construction is part of WSDOT’s program to remove barriers to fish under state highways.
Purdy Creek under SR 16 and the SR 302 Spur currently has undersized culverts that act as barriers to fish.
Purdy Creek is home to native fish species including Chinook salmon and chum salmon. Coho salmon, sculpin and coastal cutthroat and steelhead trout are also found in the stream.
The work on SR 16 and SR 302 Spur at Purdy Creek will be complete in 2024.
Original source can be found here.
