Snohomish County honored nationally for Index-Galena road repair

Published 1:30 am Monday, August 18, 2025

EVERETT — Snohomish County won a national award from the American Public Works Association for its work on the Index-Galena road flood repair, which was washed out by historic floods in 2006.

In November 2006, a “biblical” rainstorm washed out a section between milepost 6 and 7 on the Index-Galena Road. Until work was completed in November 2023, travelers were forced to take a 40-mile detour.

The road goes through the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, making repairs difficult due to the needed coordination between the U.S. Forest Service, state and local agencies, tribes and conservation groups.

“The project had many challenges due to the volume of clearing and rock blasting needed, working near a river, and the remote location of the project site. All factors that required countless hours of engineering and discussion to move the project forward,” said Deputy Director and County Engineer Doug McCormick in a Wednesday press release.

Crews moved the path of the road away from the North Fork Skykomish River, up-sized 15 pipe drainage culverts, constructed an armored concrete box culvert, built reinforcement walls and a 180-foot single-span bridge.

The county’s Public Works department also added engineered log jams and boulders in addition to planting 40,000 native species to enhance habitat along the stretch of road.

“Snohomish County Public Works continues to push the envelope on what’s possible, overcoming challenges and pressing forward to deliver well-designed and functional projects for our county residents and visitors,” Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers said in the release. “The Index-Galena Road Flood Repair has restored critical access to a community and reopened an economic and recreational gateway to the upper Skykomish River and Wild Sky Wilderness.”

This award is the second consecutive year that the American Public Works Association has recognized the Snohomish County Public Works department.

The department was expected to receive the award Monday at the annual American Public Works Association exposition in Chicago.

Eliza Aronson: 425-339-3434; eliza.aronson@heraldnet.com; X: @ElizaAronson.

Eliza’s stories are supported by the Herald’s Environmental and Climate Reporting Fund.