Highway 101 along Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park/NPS, Barb Maynes

A mix of projects, including one to take down a 150-foot Douglas fir, will cause some road delays along Highway 101 in Olympic National Park in the coming weeks and months.

On Wednesday, March 14, park crews along with some from the Washington State Department of Transportation will work to remove a hazard tree from the Lake Crescent section of Highway 101 near Barnes Point. Beginning at 9 a.m. that day, Highway 101 will close at milepost 225.5 just west of Barnes Point. Pacific Northwest Tree Service will then cut a Douglas fir snag over 150 feet tall.

WSDOT crews will be onsite with their heavy equipment to clear the roadway. Once the road is clear for alternating single-lane traffic, WSDOT will allow alternating traffic through until the roadway is completely cleared. The duration of the closure could last an hour or longer and will depend on the amount of clearing needed. To avoid the delay, drivers should plan to be through the area prior to 9 a.m.

Lake Crescent-Hwy 101 Rehab Project Resumes; 4-hour & 6-hour Delays Planned

Meanwhile, Strider Construction will resume road work on the Lake Crescent section of Highway 101 on Thursday, March 15. The work for 2018 includes erosion control, subexcavation, milling, and paving beginning on the eastern end of Lake Crescent and working west.

When planning to drive around Lake Crescent, here are three important reminders:

• Expect up to half-hour delays during weekday work hours and slower travel through the construction zone.
• Work hours will vary according to season and daylength. From April 2-September 21, road work is restricted to two hours after sunrise to two hours before sunset.
• Work will occur on weekdays only and will not be scheduled on holidays or weekends.

In order to complete necessary subexcavation and deep patching, the contractor is planning a series of four-hour daytime delays and six-hour overnight delays. These longer delays are not permitted during the busy summer season between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

The first planned six-hour overnight delays for this construction season are scheduled for March 19-21 and March 26-28 (Monday through Wednesday) from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. During these six-hour overnight periods, Highway 101 eastbound from Forks will be open to the turn for Barnes Point where Lake Crescent Lodge is located. Highway 101 westbound from Port Angeles will remain open up to mile marker 232/East Beach Road. Travelers to and from the western side of the peninsula can use SR 112/113 as an alternate route during the delay.

The first planned four-hour delays for this construction season are scheduled to begin Monday, April 2, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The contractor is planning to use the four-hour delays daily Monday through Thursday, weather permitting, until all 20 of the allotted four-hour delays are utilized. The location of the work for these four-hour periods will move as the deep patch work progresses with more information forthcoming. Outside of the scheduled 4-hour delays, drivers should continue to expect up to half-hour delays during weekday work hours.

This project is being managed collaboratively by the Federal Highway Administration and the National Park Service. An updated outline of the yearly schedule for U.S. Highway 101, is provided below.

March 15-31, 2018 and March 15-31, 2019

• Expect half-hour delays during weekday work hours, with short delays after-hours to accommodate alternating single lane traffic.
• Limited 4-hour delays (9 a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays only) and 6-hour overnight delays (10 p.m.-4 a.m. Mondays through Wednesdays only) may be scheduled and will be announced in advance.

April 2018—Late May 2018 and April 2019—Late May 2019

• Expect half-hour delays during weekday work hours, with short delays after-hours to accommodate alternating single lane traffic.
• Limited 4-hour delays may be scheduled (9 a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays only) and will be announced in advance.

After Memorial Day 2018—Early September 2018 and After Memorial Day 2019—late September 2019

• Expect half-hour delays during weekday work hours, with short delays after-hours to accommodate alternating single lane traffic.

Early September 2018—Mid November 2018 and September 2019

• Expect half-hour delays during weekday work hours, with short delays after-hours to accommodate alternating single lane traffic.
• Limited 4-hour delays (9 a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays only) and 6-hour overnight delays (10 p.m.-4 a.m. Mondays through Wednesdays only) may be scheduled and will be announced in advance.

Drivers can find updates and maps of the project area with current project information on the park website at go.nps.gov/LCHwy101Project. The Federal Highway Administration website for this project is available at https:/flh.fhwa.dot.gov/projects/wa/lake-crescent/.