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Early Work Underway on Fauntleroy Creek Culvert Replacement at 45th Ave SW
date posted: 28 Jun 2026
Seattle Public Utilities has begun the first phase of a long-planned culvert project in West Seattle — utility relocation along 45th Avenue Southwest, with the major road work still ahead in 2027.
For roughly the past week and a half, crews have been on site at 45th Ave SW near SW Wildwood Place as Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) moves into construction on the Fauntleroy Creek Culverts Replacement Program. The work marks the start of a multi-year effort to replace aging creek culverts that carry Fauntleroy Creek beneath neighborhood streets — structures the city says pose both a public-safety risk and a barrier to salmon trying to reach upstream habitat.
What’s happening now
According to SPU’s project page, construction on the 45th Ave SW Culvert Replacement Project is divided into two phases:
Phase 1 (now through roughly fall 2026): SPU and Seattle City Light are relocating overhead power lines along 45th Ave SW. This early work is expected to last up to four months.
Phase 2 (starting in the first half of 2027): The actual culvert replacement begins. That phase is expected to last about two years and will include a temporary closure of 45th Ave SW for through traffic.
For now, neighbors should expect activity typical of a construction site — equipment, noise, dust, and lighting — but not yet the full two-year street shutdown. SPU says pedestrian access will be maintained when it’s safe; detours will be posted when needed. Temporary parking restrictions near the site are also expected for the duration of work along 45th.
Construction hours, per the city, are generally 7 a.m.–10 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.–10 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
Why this project matters
Fauntleroy Creek drains a 149-acre watershed in southwest Seattle into Puget Sound. Three culverts carry the creek under roadways: at Fauntleroy Way SW (lower), 45th Ave SW (middle), and California Ave SW (upper). SPU’s program focuses on replacing the culverts at 45th and California; the lower culvert and fish ladder at Fauntleroy Way SW are not part of the current program.
The city says the 45th Ave SW culvert is deteriorating and at risk of failure — a condition that increases flooding risk and could lead to collapse. The structure is also too small for fish to pass through, a problem shared by the California Ave SW culvert. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has listed both as barriers that must be replaced with larger, fish-passable structures to meet state and federal requirements.
SPU notes that despite its small size, the Fauntleroy watershed is in better condition than most of Seattle’s urban streams, with good water quality, forest canopy, and strong community stewardship. Biologists have found the middle and upper reaches suitable for fish — if the culverts weren’t blocking access. The creek also has the lowest pre-spawn Coho salmon mortality of any of the city’s urban creeks.
Restoring fish passage, the city emphasizes, is also tied to Tribal treaty rights under the Treaty of Point Elliott and related agreements.
The bigger picture: Seattle’s culvert challenge
The Fauntleroy work is one piece of a larger city effort. On its Creek Culverts overview page, SPU notes that Seattle has 65 miles of creek, with 21 creek miles running through pipes. There are more than 700 creek culverts citywide, and SPU is responsible for 63 known fish-passage barriers on its property alone.
Other active or planned creek culvert work includes the Taylor Creek Restoration Project in southeast Seattle and a Thornton Culvert Strategy being developed in 2025–2026 to prioritize investments along Thornton Creek in northeast Seattle.
California Ave SW: repaired, but not done
While work at 45th is just getting started, the California Ave SW culvert — near The Hall at Fauntleroy, Fauntleroy Church, and the schoolhouse — has its own history. SPU reports that culvert was actively failing in 2025 and received an emergency repair; it is no longer considered at immediate risk of failure. A full replacement with a fish-passable structure is planned as the second phase of the Fauntleroy program, but construction there could begin no earlier than 2028, after the 45th Ave SW project is complete.
What’s ahead for 45th Ave SW
When the major construction phase begins in 2027, impacts will intensify. SPU warns of increased noise, light, dust, and traffic, sidewalk impacts, and the approximately two-year road closure on 45th between SW Wildwood Pl and SW Director Pl.
When finished, the project will also add a small public space on the west side of 45th called the 45th Landing — a scaled-back design incorporating community feedback, with signage, lighting, boulders, and educational elements about the creek restoration.
The overall 45th Ave SW schedule, per the city:
- Early design and planning: 2018–2023
- Mid design: 2023–2024
- Final design: 2024–2025
- Construction: 2026–2028
The project is funded in part by the King County Flood Control District, SPU ratepayers, and Washington’s Climate Commitment Act.
How to stay informed
SPU encourages neighbors to sign up for email updates at seattle.gov/utilities/FauntleroyCreekCulverts.
Questions can be directed to SPU Project Manager Justin Record at Justin.Record@seattle.gov or (206) 643-6037.
West Seattle Emergency Hub Training: Hub Basics
date posted: 17 Feb 2026West Seattle Emergency Hub Training: Hub Basics
Open to all new and inquiring volunteers!
You Will Learn:
-
Preparedness in Seattle
- Hazards we face
- City Response
- How the Hub Works
- How to get involved.
Saturday, March 14
2pm - 3:30pm
Highpoint Library
3411 SW Raymond St.
FCA Food Fest and Annual Meeting
date posted: 14 Jan 2026The Fauntleroy Community Association will hold its Annual Meeting and Food Fest on Tuesday March 24th from 6-8 PM. More details at here…
FCA Pumpkin Search
date posted: 09 Sep 2025The FCA Fall Pumpkin Search will be held Saturday, October 4 from 1:00 - 3:00 PM across from Endolyne Joe’s
We need volunteers to help hide the pumpkins at 11:30. If you wish to volunteer please contact Candace at blueyvette47@gmail.com
Tonight's Meeting Online ONLY
date posted: 09 Sep 2025Tonight’s board meeting is ONLINE ONLY. You can register to attend at https://www.fauntleroy.net/meetings
Emergency Culvert Work
date posted: 30 Aug 2025Seattle Public Utilities has determined that some emergency work need sto be completed on the Fauntleroy Creek culvert running beneath the church parking lot, before the scheduled project can begin. This will help keep the culvert in proper repair until the permanent replacement project can begin.
Details here: UTILITY WORK ALERT: Date set for expected start of Fauntleroy culvert repairs.
Ferry Dock Intersection Traffic Signal Work
date posted: 01 Jul 2025This is an excerpt from an email from Washington State Ferries to the Ferry Advisory Committees
We also want to share another update about upcoming work at the terminal’s intersection with Fauntleroy Way Southwest. On Tuesday, July 8, and Wednesday, July 9, WSF crews will conduct potholing work to understand site conditions for the new traffic signal at the intersection. Potholing involves using specialized equipment to create small holes in the ground to verify the location, depth and condition of underground utilities. Please see the attached notice for more information.
If you have questions or concerns about this work, feel free to reply to this email, or reach out to wsfcomms@wsdot.wa.gov. With any time sensitive questions or concerns, please call our construction hotline at 206-402-8070.
We will continue to keep this group updated as we do work at the intersection. We plan to share an update on our overall intersection work at our August 6 CAG meeting.
Best,
WSF Fauntleroy Terminal Project Comms Team
Fauntleroy Fall Festival Fundraiser at the Super Deli Mart
date posted: 13 Jun 2025The Fall Festival will be holding a Fauntleroy Fall Festival Summer Block Party at the Super Deli mat!
Tonight’s Meeting
date posted: 10 Jun 2025Tonight’s meeting will be held next door in The Hall at Fauntleroy.
Also there will be no Zoom meeting tonight.
2025 Spring Egg Hunt!
date posted: 17 Mar 2025It’s that wonderful time of year again when we enjoy the beauty of flowers and…The FCA Spring Egg Hunt, Saturday, April 12. Bring your children, all ages, to the back parking lot of the Fauntleroy Children’s Center. We start promptly at 1:00 so don’t be late! There are plenty of eggs for the children to find, plus some prizes.
We also could use volunteers to come and hide the eggs at 11:30 that morning.
Contact Candace Blue 209-401-8406 or blueyvette47@gmail.com. Happy spring!
Contact
Fauntleroy Community AssociationPO Box 46343
Seattle WA 98146-6343
email: contact@fauntleroy.net