Still stuck on the way to the Washington coast? Blame the culverts

It’s going to be another long spring and summer for those of you heading to the coast.

The culvert (fish passage work) between McCleary and Montesano isn’t expected to wrap up before the travel season ends. Five different work zones are affecting both directions of State Route 8 (SR 8) and US 12 along a roughly 18-mile stretch of highway in that area. There are lane closures, and in some places, you’re driving on the opposite side of the road.

During peak travel last year, these closures led to very slow trips along the corridor.

I rolled through the area recently, and the closures look a lot like last year—though a lot of work has been completed. The new bridges look good. There’s been a lot of paving, but Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) Cara Mitchell told me there’s still a lot left to do.

“It is going to be the same as last year,” she said. “The good news is we’re getting close.”

Another long summer heading to the coast thanks to culverts

Drivers should expect some changes as the work progresses over the next few months.

“Travelers will see a shift in the lanes,” Mitchell said. “Instead of being on the inside lanes, they’re going to be moved to the outside lanes. It will still be one lane in each direction. We hope to have the project wrapped up by late summer, early fall.”

The plan is to open sections of the road as they’re completed—not to wait until everything is done.

“Some are a little bit further along than the others, so it’s going to be piecemeal as they open up,” Mitchell said.

WSDOT is replacing five old culverts along this corridor to improve fish habitat, but Mitchell said the work has other benefits, too.

“When we have heavy rains, some of those older culverts were at risk of washing out and creating a lot of headaches for travelers and nearby residents alike,” she said. “This actually opens up and gives us more space for water to flow underneath the highways.”

Now to my soapbox: this is your yearly reminder to zipper merge. During those heavy travel times last year, I was flipped off for using the open lane all the way to the merge. I expect similar interactions this year.

“You will continue to see zipper merge signs,” Mitchell said. “You will continue to see a reduced speed limit through the work zones, and we really ask people for their patience. Give yourself that extra time so you don’t feel the need or the urge to speed, and help keep our workers safe.”

Remember, drivers like me who use the open lane all the way to the closure are not cutting the line. We are not cheating. We are merging the proper way. Please don’t cut off those drivers. Please let them in. It’s better for everyone—and it reduces congestion.

Chris Sullivan is a traffic reporter for KIRO Newsradio. Read more of his stories here. Follow KIRO Newsradio traffic on X.

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