SMOKEY POINT — Construction crews will be closing a stretch of SR 531 (172nd Street NE) west of the Interstate 5 for one week starting soon.
The crews are closing a section of SR 531 between 11th Avenue NE west to McRae Road NW starting at 8 a.m. Sept. 21.
Construction is slated to last until 8 a.m. on Sept. 28, WSDOT spokeswoman Meghan Pembroke said.
Crews will be replacing a damaged culvert that had collapsed last fall with a larger concrete box culvert during the weeklong project.
The new culvert will stabilize the highway and carry a much larger volume of water while improving fish passage on nearby Cougar Creek, Pembroke said.
“This should help if we have another winter like last year,” she said.
A signed detour will be available, but WSDOT is asking drivers to allow for extra time while driving through the affected areas.
Crews are also continuing work on a new southbound onramp on the SR 531/Interstate 5 interchange.
Pembroke said crews are expected to have the ramp opened up before the morning commute Sept. 18.
For more information about the projects, visit the WSDOT Web site.
