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SKAGIT COUNTY -It's not only the thousands of drivers who will soon benefit from dramatically improved passage through Mount Vernon when Skagit County Public Works completes the Anderson-LaVenture Road Project, the fish are happy too!

It is anticipated that more than 20 percent of traffic on College Way will be diverted to Interstate 5 via Anderson-LaVenture when the Project is completed, but an added bonus that has Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife smiling is the replacement of a 42-inch culvert with an 80-foot bridge spanning Maddox Creek at Anderson Road. Fish passage was also improved at Blodgett Road where two 30-inch culverts were replaced with a 19-foot box culvert because the existing culverts were too small to provide adequate fish passage. Now Coho and chum salmon will have significantly improved access to valuable spawning areas in the watershed.

Last month, construction of the bridge at Anderson Road was delayed because Coho salmon were spawning near the location where the pilings that will support the bridge were to be driven. Public Works staff worked with NOAA Fisheries, WDFW, and the construction contractor to change the technique of driving the piles. By waiting several days for the eggs to firm up, the project was approved to move forward with the pile driving under the revised method. "It was a win-win for fish, people, and our project" said Skagit County Public Works Director Henry Hash.

Over the past several years, Skagit County has completed more than 30 fish passage projects. "We are committed to improve fish passage every time we have a road project that offers the potential to enhance habitat." said Commissioner Ken Dahlstedt.