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Eagle Harbor Fish Passage at Cooper Creek
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End of March 2026: The City appreciates the community’s patience as overlapping construction projects continue at the Head of the Bay on Eagle Harbor Drive and Wyatt Way.
Paving is done and both lanes are open at the head of the bay!
The City intentionally planned the overlap of three major construction projects at the Head of the Bay – Eagle Harbor Fish Passage at Cooper Creek, Wyatt Water Main Replacement, and Eagle Harbor Drive / Wyatt Way Non-Motorized improvements – to limit the overall duration of construction and traffic disruptions on the public, and to reduce costs. Each of these projects could have added up to 2 years of construction if performed independently but were combined to reduce construction impacts to less than 1 year.
The current project schedule anticipates major construction on the corridor will be completed spring 2026.
Project overview
The City of Bainbridge Island is working actively to enhance the Cooper Creek system and support local fish populations. This project aims to create a more natural stream bed, allowing more anadromous fish- like salmon and trout - to move freely at all tidal levels. These improvements will connect 9,000 square feet of intertidal salt marsh to regular and complete tidal flows, promoting healthier vegetation that supports invertebrates and juvenile fish.
The project will address a significant barrier at Cooper Creek, located at the head of Eagle Harbor. Currently, a 30-inch concrete culvert restricts fish migration. The City of Bainbridge Island will replace this with a 15-foot-wide bottomless box culvert, restoring the stream's natural flow and increasing tidal inundation to the intertidal marsh. This change will provide immediate access to about a mile of high-quality habitat for Coho and Chum salmon and Coastal Cutthroat trout.
This new culvert will eliminate the predator trap created by the current culvert, which only allows fish passage at medium/low tides. Fish will be able to move upstream more easily, and the natural tidal ebbs and flows will support the movement of forage fish into the upstream marsh. By reconnecting the stream to the marine environment, the City of Bainbridge Island will enhance both freshwater and intertidal habitats, benefiting native salmon and trout species, including the ESA-listed Chinook salmon.
Mid-January through Mid-February 2026: Work on storm drainage, water line and bridge abutment railings will be ongoing through mid-February. Traffic disruptions in the form of one-lane closures will be coordinated as much as possible with the closures needed to support the Eagle Harbor / Wyatt Way project.
January 2026: Redside Construction remobilized to finish the water line component of this project and to install metal railings on the culvert.
October 9, 2025:
One-way flagging will be in place during work hours to facilitate activity on this project as well as the Eagle Harbor Fish Passage at Cooper Creek project.
- Ongoing completion of the Cooper Creek Culvert work - waterline and drainage installation and additional paving. Non-motorized improvements on and leading up to the culvert on both sides is not complete and will not be complete until summer of 2026.
- Start-up of the Eagle Harbor / Wyatt Way contract work, which will begin with water line installation beginning at the culvert and extending north and east to Eakin Drive. Bikes will be expected to ride with traffic in flagged areas. Bicyclists will be able to proceed first before traffic.
- Project staff are working with the contractor to develop a plan for roadway conditions in the area of the water line installation that will safely accommodate vehicles and bikes outside of work hours. More information for bicyclists travelling in these areas will be forthcoming.
*At the end of October: Work will begin on related drainage improvements along the corridor. One-way with flaggers will continue to be needed during work hours. Once the drainage work is completed, continued work on Eagle Harbor / Wyatt Way non-motorized improvements may be postponed until spring.
Evacuation Routes and Routes During the Eagle Harbor Drive Closure
• The City’s 2024 Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) (opens in a new tab) includes a Hazard Specific Annex (opens in a new tab) outlining evacuation responsibilities and route designation.
• Please review the Temporary Evacuation Route and Traffic Control Points 2025 Map with Eagle Harbor Drive Closure (opens in a new tab)
• The CEMP emphasizes inter-agency coordination among Bainbridge Island Police Department (BIPD), Bainbridge Island Fire Department (BIFD), Bainbridge Prepares, and City Emergency Management. Kitsap County Department of Emergency Management will be included if evacuation routes include off-island locations.
• BIPD will be located at at high congestion points to manage traffic. The City will activate mutual aid (local, state, federal) in the event of a large scale emergency.
Alternate Water Evacuation Routes During Eagle Harbor Drive Closure
City Emergency Management is exploring south end water-based evacuation routes with Kitsap Transit. Eagle Harbor Marina D has been identified as a potential pick up point for Kitsap Transit foot ferries. Foot ferries would then transport evacuees to the WSDOT Bainbridge Ferry Terminal or to the Kitsap Transit terminal in Bremerton.
The Emergency Management Flotilla (opens in a new tab) could also be activated to support water evacuation on the south end of the island.
October 6, 2025: Eagle Harbor Drive at Cooper Creek is open to two-way traffic with limited interruptions
October 7, 2025: Detour route signage and signals will be phased out
October 9, 2025: One-way flagging will be in place during work hours to facilitate activity on this project as well as the Eagle Harbor Fish Passage at Cooper Creek project.
- Ongoing completion of the Cooper Creek Culvert work - waterline and drainage installation and additional paving. Non-motorized improvements on and leading up to the culvert on both sides is not complete and will not be complete until summer of 2026.
- Start-up of the Eagle Harbor / Wyatt Way contract work, which will begin with water line installation beginning at the culvert and extending north and east to Eakin Drive. Bikes will be expected to ride with traffic in flagged areas. Bicyclists will be able to proceed first before traffic.
- Project staff are working with the contractor to develop a plan for roadway conditions in the area of the water line installation that will safely accommodate vehicles and bikes outside of work hours. More information for bicyclists travelling in these areas will be forthcoming.
*At the end of October: Work will begin on related drainage improvements along the corridor. One-way with flaggers will continue to be needed during work hours. Once the drainage work is completed, continued work on Eagle Harbor / Wyatt Way non-motorized improvements may be postponed until spring.
Week of September 29: The contractor poured the concrete barricades for the box culvert bridge.
- By Friday, October 6: At least one lane will open to traffic with flagging, with both lanes expected to be open in the evenings.
- By Thursday, October 9: Both lanes are expected to open with daytime flagging to support finishing work on the culvert and beginning new water line work.
As traffic patterns stabilize, detour components such as the temporary signal at Fletcher Bay Road will be phased out. The water line replacement improvement was originally planned to occur alongside the culvert work. Unfortunately, longer-than-expected federal funding reviews and a complex bidding process delayed the project. The new water line will replace an older system in preparation for the remainder of non-motorized improvements for Eagle Harbor Drive.
September 22: Last week the construction crew poured the concrete approach slabs on both the north and south sides of the culvert. This week, the focus will shift to forming and pouring the concrete barricades on either side of the culvert and installing sections of the water main.
Weather permitting, the road is still scheduled to reopen on Monday, October 6. However, the overall project will not be complete at that time. Intermittent traffic flagging operations will continue during work hours for both the culvert project and the separate water line project taking place north of the culvert on Wyatt Way.
September 15: The stream bypass has now been removed, and water is once again flowing naturally through the channel and the new culvert. Last week brought a fun sight:- a juvenile salmonid swimming in Cooper Creek, spotted by our Water Resources Specialist.
Last week, the contractor prepared for Friday's concrete pour of the culvert topping slab which is the surface directly above the new box culvert.
Looking ahead, crews will pour the adjacent approach slabs this week, continuing progress toward reopening this critical corridor.
The road will reopen to vehicle traffic in early October. Construction crews will remain on site through the end of October to finish the project, with only minimal flagging and delays expected.
We appreciate your continued patience while we restore habitat, improve safety, and make way for long-term salmon recovery.
August 29:
- Crews recently completed placement of the new concrete box culvert, including streambed cobbles and woody debris.
- Contractors are now preparing the backfill and building retaining walls on the east side.
- Stream water will soon be re-routed from temporary bypass pipes into the new culvert.
- Roadway backfill will begin in the coming weeks as the project stays on track for completion.
Keep an eye out for:
- Traffic Signal Modifications: The signal timing of the temporary traffic lights at Fletcher Bay Rd and High School Rd has been adjusted to run from 6 am to 6 pm to capture school traffic. The signal phasing has also been adjusted to prevent long back-ups at High School Rd.
- New Stop Sign: A new all-way stop sign has been installed at the intersection of Fletcher Bay Rd and Lynwood Center Rd.
- Police Traffic Control: BIPD Officers will help direct traffic at key intersections on the first days of school.
- On-the-ground Monitoring: Public Works and Sustainable Transportation staff will be stationed along the detour route to observe and document traffic conditions throughout the day.
- Adjustments: Staff will meet with BISD, Kitsap Transit, and emergency response agencies to review traffic flow and adjust plans as needed.
August 20: The Cooper Creek Fish Passage project is proceeding according to the schedule, with the contractor working over the last weekend to complete the placement of the concrete box culvert. The box was constructed in two major efforts, with the bottom sections and the streambed cobbles and woody debris placement first, followed the top sections. The contractor is now preparing the backfill on both sides of the box and is preparing to re-route the stream from the bypass pipes to the new culvert. Next week’s work will include beginning the roadway backfill and retaining wall construction on the east side of the box.
August 15 – 18: This Friday through Monday (6 AM to 7 PM) the box culvert pieces are scheduled to be delivered and craned into place. Each concrete section weights over 40,000 pounds and there are 16 pieces in all. A very large crane will be in use to lift the sections from delivery trucks and set them in the channel. For safety purposes the non-motorized bridge detour will be closed for periods of time during the lifts. Wait times/delays for crossing the bridge could be 10 to 15 minutes while the crane works overhead.
The travelling public should plan accordingly and expect delays. Pedestrians should utilize the Lost Valley Trail as an alternative route. The trail may be accessed via the dirt road at the corner of Wyatt and Eagle Harbor Drive. A PSE outage to the above power lines is scheduled for this period to ensure crane operator safety. The outage will not affect nearby customers.
August 7: City crews prepped a gravel pad at the intersection of High School Road and Fletcher Bay Road to provide a base for one of three portable temporary traffic signals. The signals will be installed the morning of Tuesday, August 12th. The signals will be able to process the afternoon peak rush hour traffic more efficiently than the current temporary all-way stop signs.
The temporary light will flash red during low-traffic times and operate as a full traffic signal during peak congestion.
The signal will stay in place for up to two months or until the project wraps up (whichever comes first). We are working with Bainbridge Island School District on bus route and school start and end timing as we approach the start of school.
In the meantime, a unformed officer will continue to assist with weekday traffic control for two hours each day to keep things moving safely.
Week of August 11: To help manage increased traffic along this project's detour route, the City installed a programmable temporary traffic signal at the intersection of High School Road and Fletcher Bay Road.
Traffic monitoring has shown consistent back ups at this intersection around 4:00 pm on weekdays while traffic flows more smoothly during most other times of the day. The new signal is designed to respond to these patterns by flashing red when traffic is light and function as a full traffic signal during peak congestion periods.
Week of July 28: This week, the contractor made significant progress on this project. Crews drilled 30-foot-deep shafts and installed wood and steel H-piles along the east side of the roadway. Cofferdam sheets were also placed to create a dry work zone, allowing excavation below the streambed to proceed safely and efficiently.
On the west side of the road, additional shafts were drilled and piles installed after overhead utilities were successfully relocated. To complete this work, Puget Sound Energy temporarily de-energized power to nearby homes and businesses. To support impacted businesses, the City provided and installed a generator at Green Light Garage to ensure continued operations during the outage.
Near a major PSE utility pole, the contractor is constructing soldier pile shafts and setting piles in concrete to create a permanent retaining wall. This wall will support the roadway and stabilize the utility pole during upcoming deep excavation activities.
We appreciate your continued patience while we restore habitat, improve safety, and make way for long-term salmon recovery.
Evacuation Routes and Routes During the Eagle Harbor Drive Closure
• The City’s 2024 Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) includes a Hazard Specific Annex outlining evacuation responsibilities and route designation.
• Please review the Temporary Evacuation Route and Traffic Control Points 2025 Map with Eagle Harbor Drive Closure
• The CEMP emphasizes inter-agency coordination among Bainbridge Island Police Department (BIPD), Bainbridge Island Fire Department (BIFD), Bainbridge Prepares, and City Emergency Management. Kitsap County Department of Emergency Management will be included if evacuation routes include off-island locations.
• BIPD will be located at at high congestion points to manage traffic. The City will activate mutual aid (local, state, federal) in the event of a large scale emergency.
Alternate Water Evacuation Routes During Eagle Harbor Drive Closure
City Emergency Management is exploring south end water-based evacuation routes with Kitsap Transit. Eagle Harbor Marina D has been identified as a potential pick up point for Kitsap Transit foot ferries. Foot ferries would then transport evacuees to the WSDOT Bainbridge Ferry Terminal or to the Kitsap Transit terminal in Bremerton.
The Emergency Management Flotilla could also be activated to support water evacuation on the south end of the island.
July 17, 2025: Two temporary stop signs will be installed at the intersection of Fletcher Bay Road and High School Road to support the detour for this project.
July 16, 2025: Construction begins! During construction, a small section of Eagle Harbor Drive will be closed. Pedestrians and bicyclists will be able to use a temporary gangway to traverse the closure. Vehicles will detour via Fletcher Bay Road and High School Road. *Area businesses will remain open during construction.*
June 25, 2025: Press Release Eagle Harbor Drive to Close for Critical Salmon Habitat and Infrastructure Improvements
June 2025: Islanders will soon receive this postcard in the mail with details about the upcoming Eagle Harbor Drive closure at the head of the bay, part of an important project to restore salmon habitat and enhance non-motorized access at the head of the bay.
April 2025 - City Council awarded the construction contract for this project to Redside Construction LLC and also authorized the acceptance of a Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Grant.
March 2025 - The design has been completed and this project is currently out for bid. We anticipate the construction phase to begin on July 16th and continue through October 15th, 2025, in alignment with the WDFW permitted fish window.
December 2024 – We are pleased to announce that the Consultant has submitted 90% design plans for city review and applied for Army Corps of Engineers permits.
The City Project Manager is actively collaborating with the Suquamish Tribe, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and the Army Corps of Engineers. This joint effort ensures that we integrate valuable insights and accommodate the ideas and requests of each jurisdiction, fostering a positive and productive partnership.
September 2024 - This project is in the design phase with construction estimated to start in August 2025.The City and the consultant are currently coordinating with the Suquamish Tribe, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) and the Army Corps of Engineers to ensure the design meets governing regulations and to limit the impacts of construction on the environment and citizens with a thoughtfully engineered design.
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The City of Bainbridge Island, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4) and the Regulations, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full and fair opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.
Those requiring disability accommodations and/or materials made available in alternate formats, please contact the City Clerk at 206.842.2545 or cityclerk@bainbridgewa.gov.
The Cooper Creek Culvert Restoration is supported with funding from Washington's Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The CCA supports Washington's climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.