US 101/Grader & Unnamed Trib to Pac Ocean- Remove Fish Barriers (PDB1 2B)

Expect temporary traffic lights and around-the-clock alternating traffic at two locations south of Forks.

Project overview

This project will remove barriers to fish migration under US 101 at two locations in Jefferson and Clallam counties.

Timeline

Spring 2025 - Fall 2026

Project status

Construction

Funding

70.5 Million

Project hotline

360-216-7370

What to expect

Throughout summer 2025, travelers will see alternating traffic at two locations south of Forks. The work zones are located near Mansfield Road in Clallam County and between Ruby Beach and Kalaloch Beach in Jefferson County. Temporary traffic signals will be in place around the clock.

Map of US 101 near Forks with orange dots indicating the location of two work zones, one in Jefferson County near Ruby Beach and one in Clallam County about a mile south of Forks.

View full image

This project includes two fish passage sites. One site is located in Jefferson County near Ruby Beach and the other is in Clallam County near Forks.

History and background

A fish passage barrier is anything that hinders fish from moving upstream or downstream. Culverts or pipes under the roadway allow water to flow but may not allow fish to swim through. Culverts may block fish migration because the water flow is too swift, too shallow, or has a waterfall into or out of the culvert.

Since 1991, WSDOT has worked to improve fish passage and foster healthy waterways. This is done by removing barriers that keep fish and other aquatic species from moving under the state highway.

Since 2013, WSDOT has worked to follow the requirements of a U.S. District Court injunction to correct barriers to salmon and steelhead.

View full image of map showing fish passage site locations in Jefferson and Clallam counties. Site 4 is labeled as US 101: Grader Creek at milepost 189.4 and site 21 is labeled as US 101: Unnamed tributary to Pacific Ocean at milepost 163.1. — This project includes two fish passage sites. One is located south of Forks and the other is south of Ruby Beach.

View full image of map showing locations of fish passage work zones at a stream to the Pacific Ocean located at milepost 163.1 south of Ruby Beach, May Creek located at milepost 184.7 at the Jefferson-Clallam county line, Grader Creek located at milepost 189.4 south of Forks, and Wisen Creek located at milepost 209.3 west of Lake Crescent. — In addition to the two sites for this project, travelers will see two existing fish passage work zones near Forks in summer 2025. A project at May Creek is continuing through fall 2026. Crews will return in late spring to the work zone at Wisen Creek to complete that project. All four work zones will have temporary traffic lights and one-way alternating traffic.

These culverts part of a larger effort in Grays Harbor, Jefferson and Clallam Counties. The work will remove 29 barriers to fish under state highways.

A separate project at the Jefferson-Clallam county line began in March 2024 to replace a culvert under US 101 at May Creek.

Visit the online open house to find out more about summer construction across the Olympic Peninsula.

Fish Passage:

WSDOT is improving fish passage across Washington State.
View WSDOT's interactive map of fish barrier locations.
Learn about the Federal Court injunction for fish passage.

News Releases:

Major milestone for fish passage project along Washington coast

Blog:

YouTube:

Designing fish passage project

US 101/Grader & Unnamed Trib to Pac Ocean- Remove Fish Barriers (PDB1 2B)

Project overview

What to expect

History and background

Fish Passage:

News Releases:

Blog:

YouTube:

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