Submitted by San Juan County.

Construction on the Bayhead Creek Culvert Repair Project on Killebrew Lake Road on Orcas Island will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 2, and is expected to last until mid-October. The new project design significantly reduces the construction window from what was proposed in 2023 – reducing the overall project time by 50% (three months to 45 days) and reducing road closure time by 90% (90 days to nine days).

It is important for travelers to know that Killebrew Lake Road will be closed to through traffic from Sept. 8 through Sept. 16. During that time, crews will work to facilitate access for emergency vehicles as much as possible.

This project seeks to address damage from a 2020 storm that overwhelmed the culvert under Killebrew Lake Road and required a temporary fix. Now, the County is required by state law to replace the temporary culvert with a larger, permanent and fish-passable design. Funding for this project comes from FEMA and expires in early 2026.

The County will continue communicating with residents and visitors about the impending work. Information will be available at the construction site, around Orcas Landing (Village Store and Post Office) and via the project landing page: https://engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/bayhead-killebrew-culvert. The County will continue to work with emergency service providers to establish plans for emergency access during the road closure.

Additional questions can be directed to project manager Tyler Davis: tylerd@sanjuancountywa.gov.