State Route 169 in Maple Valley closure extended through Oct. 20 following discovery of remnant bridge at project site

October 17, 2021

Summary

The closure of State Route 169 north of Cedar Grove Road in Maple Valley has been extended until the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 20, following discovery of a remnant structure at the project site. Work resumed on Sunday, Oct. 17 to install culverts underneath the highway that will reduce flooding and improve fish passage following a required site inspection by the Washington Department of Transportation. Commuters should review the detour route and prepare for delays.

Story

State Route 169 in Maple Valley will remain closed to all traffic until the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 20, after crews working on a project to reduce flooding discovered remnants of what appeared to be a bridge structure at the project site.

Construction resumed the morning of Sunday, Oct. 17, following Washington Department of Transportation inspection of the site, and crews are working as quickly as possible to complete the project and reopen the highway. 

Both directions of State Route 169 will remain fully closed between 196th Avenue Southeast and Cedar Grove Road Southeast. The adjacent Cedar River Trail will also remain closed while work is underway. 

King County and the Washington State Department of Transportation are working closely to limit the impacts of the closure of State Route 169.

Residents in unincorporated King County can get real-time traffic information by checking the My Commute Map and by following the @kcroads on Twitter. Travelers can also find updated traffic information on the @WSDOT_traffic Twitter feed, and with WSDOT Travel Alerts. 

Flooding from runoff at this location has caused hazardous road conditions, isolated nearby residences, and has led to repeated closures of State Route 169 – most recently in February 2020, when the highway was closed for five days.

The King County Flood Control District is funding the repair which will replace the existing 18-inch culverts with 15-foot-wide box culverts to minimize the risk of flooding of the highway and nearby residences. The new culverts will also improve fish passage by allowing unobstructed access to upstream habitat. 

What to expect during closure:
• Travelers should allow extra time through the area during the closure.
• Local jurisdictions have been notified of the planned detour route.
• Local and freight traffic will follow a signed detour route.
• This work is weather dependent and subject to schedule changes.
• Additional information and updates about the project are available at kingcounty.gov/SR169FloodReduction.

###

The King County Flood Control District is a special purpose government created to provide funding and policy oversight for flood protection projects and programs in King County. The Flood Control District’s Board is composed of the members of the King County Council. The Water and Land Resources Division of the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks develops and implements the approved flood protection projects and programs. Information is available at kingcountyfloodcontrol.org/.