Date: September 8, 2017
Contact: Penny Wagner, 360-565-3005
PORT ANGELES, WA: Due to traffic safety concerns through the rock scaling zone the Federal Highway Administration has recommended a full closure for Highway 101 until the rock scaling is completed. The full closure is scheduled to begin Monday at 6:00 am and anticipated to last for up to four days.
No further rock scaling activity will occur until the full closure on Monday. During the first planned four-hour delay for rock scaling work on Thursday, September 7 the slope was prepared to allow traffic through the area with temporary traffic signals for alternating single-lane traffic until the rock scaling resumes with the full closure next week.
During the closure, Highway 101 eastbound from Forks will remain open up to the turn for Barnes Point where Lake Crescent Lodge, Storm King Information Station, NatureBridge, and the trailheads are located. Highway 101 westbound from Port Angeles will remain open up to mile marker 232/East Beach Road. Travelers to the western side of the peninsula can use SR 112 as an alternate route during the closure.
“Public and worker safety is of utmost importance,” said Olympic National Park Acting Superintendent Lee Taylor. “As much as we regret the inconvenience, the closure of Highway 101 at Lake Crescent is necessary until the rock scaling work is complete.”
Olympic National Park officials and project partners at the Federal Highway Administration made the decision to close Highway 101 in the rock scaling zone to all traffic for public safety. The full closure, including after work hours, will expedite the completion of rock scaling work and ensure the safety of the public until the scaling is complete. With additional crew and a waiver from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to increase work hours for rock scaling, the contractor expects to complete the scaling in four days or less.
Construction work will continue during the closure on other portions of the project outside the rock scaling area and travelers on Highway 101 at Lake Crescent should continue to expect half-hour delays Monday through Friday during work hours. Weekday work hours through September 23 are restricted to two hours after sunrise to two hours before sunset for areas outside the rock scaling zone. Traveling in the morning before 8:30 am and after 5:45 pm may help travelers avoid the half-hour delays.
Maps of the area and access information are available on the park website at www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/lake-crescent-highway-101-rehabilitation-2017-19.htm.
East Beach Road
Paving operations on East Beach Road are underway.
- September 8: Paving patches on East Beach Road, expect half-hour delays throughout the work day from 8:40 am to 5:40 pm.
- September 11-15: Paving bottom lift on East Beach Road (left half/right half), expect half-hour delays throughout the work day from 8:45 am to 5:30 pm.
- September 18-20: Top lift paving, full road width. 10-hour closures with no through traffic; local resident access only. Areas to be paved each day are to be announced. Log Cabin Resort will remain open and signage will direct traffic to Log Cabin Resort via SR 112 to Joyce-Piedmont Road or from East Beach Road depending on the location of paving operations.
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 417 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.
