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Contact: Barb Maynes, 360-565-3005 Contact: Dave Reynolds, 360-565-2985
Road repairs to the "Fisherman's Corner" section of Olympic Hot Springs Road within Olympic National Park will begin on Tuesday, May 31. Contractors will begin preparatory work early next week, and the road will remain open through the Memorial Day weekend. Beginning Monday, May 30 at 5:00 p.m., the Olympic Hot Springs Road will close to all public entry, including pedestrian and bicycle access, for up to five weeks. The Elwha and Altair campgrounds and all area trailheads will close during this time. Work at Fisherman's Corner is expected to last up to five weeks and will include placement of bank protection, as well as replacement of failed road base material and asphalt at Fisherman's Corner, located approximately one mile south of the park boundary. Olympic Hot Springs Road provides the only vehicular access to the Elwha Valley of Olympic National Park, and will be a primary access road for contractors during the removal of Glines Canyon Dam, scheduled to begin in September as a part of Elwha River Restoration. "We are very pleased to be able to begin these vital road repairs after Memorial Day, giving people a chance to enjoy the Elwha Valley over the holiday weekend," said Olympic National Park Superintendent Karen Gustin. "These repairs are vital for public access, routine park operations and to stay on schedule for dam removal. We ask for the public's understanding as we move forward with these projects." Final designs for repairs to the Whiskey Bend Road are still underway. Work will begin as soon as possible after repairs are completed to the Olympic Hot Springs Road. The 4.5-mile road has been closed to vehicles since December 2011, when the road sustained extensive slide damage caused by heavy rains. In addition to the slide, an assessment by road engineers revealed large voids under the road, seriously compromising road safety and stability. Whiskey Bend Road remains open at this time to pedestrians, bicyclists and stock users, who should be use extra caution when crossing the damaged areas. |
Last updated: February 28, 2015