SR 3 Chico Creek Fish Barrier Removal Project, WA
AAR Testing and Inspection, a SOCOTEC Company, provided construction materials testing and quality assurance services to support the successful delivery of the SR 3 Chico Creek Fish Barrier Removal Project, helping improve transportation infrastructure while restoring fish passage in Washington State.
Key Information
Project Name: SR 3 Chico Creek Fish Barrier Removal Project
Client: Guy F. Atkinson Construction, LLC
Owner: Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)
Location: Bremerton, Washington
Services Provided: Construction Materials Testing, Quality assurance (QA/QC) oversight, Bridge construction inspections
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The Challenge
Modernizing a Key Multimodal Interchange
The SR 3 Chico Creek Fish Barrier Removal Project was designed to improve ecological connectivity while modernizing an important section of Washington's transportation network. The primary objective was to restore Chico Creek to a more natural condition by allowing uninterrupted water flow beneath the bridges and eliminating structures within the creek itself.
The project addressed the limitations of aging, undersized culverts that restricted fish movement within the Chico Creek watershed. Key improvements included:
- Substantial excavation and removal of existing fill material to replace the outdated culverts
- Construction of two single-span, cast-in-place, post-tensioned concrete bridges, including one bridge spanning more than 200 feet
- Realignment of the SR 3 southbound on- and off-ramps to accommodate the new bridge structures
- Roadway improvements and drainage infrastructure upgrades to support the redesigned transportation corridor
Environmental stewardship was a key consideration throughout the project. The work involved close coordination among the Washington State Department of Transportation, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Suquamish Tribe to support habitat restoration within the Chico Creek watershed.
The Solution
Construction Materials Testing and Quality Assurance for a Complex Design-Build Project
Drawing on its Design-Build experience established during the SR-520 program, AAR Testing and Inspection, a SOCOTEC Company, delivered an integrated approach to construction materials testing and quality assurance throughout critical phases of construction. Early coordination of inspection staffing, reporting, coordination, and field activities helped maintain efficient project execution while supporting construction quality and schedule reliability.
Services provided included:
- Construction materials testing for pavement, structural concrete, and soils
- Quality inspections during bridge construction and roadway embankment activities
- QA/QC oversight throughout phased construction
- Field density testing, grading verification, and compaction monitoring
- Inspection of stormwater systems, drainage structures, and subgrade preparation
- Daily coordination with contractor teams and WSDOT inspectors
- Verification of roadway geometry, tolerances, and elevations
- Documentation and reporting aligned with Design-Build project processes
Drawing on its Design-Build experience established during the SR-520 program, AAR Testing and Inspection, a SOCOTEC Company, delivered an integrated approach to construction materials testing and quality assurance throughout critical phases of construction. Early coordination of inspection staffing, reporting, coordination, and field activities helped maintain efficient project execution while supporting construction quality and schedule reliability.
Services provided included:
- Construction materials testing for pavement, structural concrete, and soils
- Quality inspections during bridge construction and roadway embankment activities
- QA/QC oversight throughout phased construction
- Field density testing, grading verification, and compaction monitoring
- Inspection of stormwater systems, drainage structures, and subgrade preparation
- Daily coordination with contractor teams and WSDOT inspectors
- Verification of roadway geometry, tolerances, and elevations
- Documentation and reporting aligned with Design-Build project processes
Project features included:
- Roadway and bridge design implementation
- Roadway excavation and embankment construction
- Two new bridge structures
- Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) roadway construction, including the mainline, ramps, county road connections, frontage roads, and access roads
- Traffic elements, including signing, illumination, and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) components
- Stormwater treatment and drainage structures
- Roadside safety features
- Landscaping and gateway improvements
The Results
Supporting quality construction while helping restore the natural environment
Through proactive construction materials testing, inspections, and quality assurance, AAR Testing and Inspection, a SOCOTEC Company, helped support the successful delivery of this complex transportation project while maintaining inspection continuity and reinforcing confidence in construction quality.
The completed project provides significant long-term benefits for both transportation users and the surrounding environment, including:
- Approximately 22 miles of potential fish habitat reopened
- Replacement of undersized culverts with two new bridge structures
- Rerouting of Chico Creek beneath the new SR 3 bridge to improve natural water flow
- Improved fish access to Chico Bay
- Enhanced habitat within Chico Creek and its tributary
- Realigned SR 3 southbound ramps to accommodate the new bridge infrastructure
- Reduced risk of construction rework through coordinated quality assurance and inspection activities
This project demonstrates how rigorous construction materials testing and quality oversight contribute to the successful delivery of transportation infrastructure projects that balance engineering performance with environmental restoration.
