A portion of SR 522 will be shut down this weekend for the construction of a new salmon-friendly culvert between Ballinger Way and Brookside Boulevard NE just west of Kenmore in Lake Forest Park. The construction will take place from 7 p.m. on July 17 through the morning of Monday, July 20 and disrupt traffic for anyone going west out of Kenmore.
This construction comes as portions of SR 522 through Kenmore are being worked on and disrupting traffic.
The notice for the closure was first posted on the city of Lake Forest Park’s website on July 8, the same day a release was sent out by the city of Kenmore.
“The closure will begin with a single lane closure starting at 7 p.m. on Friday and SR 522 will be fully closed by 9 p.m. The detour route will be fully active by 9 p.m.,” said Aaron Halverson, environmental programs manager for Lake Forest Park. “Initiating the closure on Friday evening allows the maximum time for construction over the weekend, which will happen on a 24-hour work schedule.”
A detour around the area has been laid out and will take vehicles around the site.
“There will be temporary traffic impacts during the weekend closure, but the project will significantly reduce the frequency and severity of flooding which impacts all travelers on SR 522 during storm events,” Halverson said. “[The] Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) requires that in-stream construction activity happen during the summer months to minimize impacts to fish and other aquatic life.”
The work being done will also increase the likelihood of fish returning to Lyon Creek to spawn. The current four culverts are undersized. By replacing them, the stream channel near the Lake Forest Park Town Center will be more fish-friendly. Officials said that part of the timing is out of their control.
There will also be improvements to streams and wetlands at two of the city’s parks.
While the fish will be more able to move around their neighborhood environs, humans may have some issues for the weekend. Luckily, Lake Forest Park has planned a detour and is working to minimize the impact to area residents.
“The City has prepared a local detour plan around the work area, including Ballinger Way (SR 104), Northeast 178th Street, and Brookside Boulevard Northeast,” Halverson said. “The detour route will be signed, and key detour intersections will be directed by uniformed police officers and traffic control flaggers.”
However, that hasn’t sold everyone in the area.
“I plan on staying home [this] weekend. I am not looking forward to this closure at all,” said David Baker, mayor of Kenmore. “It is necessary and I do not know if there would be a better time to do it but I doubt it. They have to work within the fish window and are very limited as to when they can get the job done.”
Crews will work around the clock through the weekend, in order to re-open SR 522 to traffic around 5 a.m. on Monday. If the work is incomplete, then the roadway will still be re-opened on Monday, but work and closures would continue to the weekend of July 24-27.
“We are doing our best to get the word out but it will be a mess. [It’s best if everyone uses] the next week to stock up on supplies and be prepared,” Baker said. “I think there will be a major disruption to our community. Normal errands will be curtailed and even getting to the grocery store could be difficult.”
