Today's U.S. Highway 101 follows the route of the first road around Lake Crescent, built in the early 1920s.
NPS Photo by BMaynes
On July 10, 2017, the National Park Service and Federal Highway Administration began a project to rehabilitate 12 miles of Highway 101 around Lake Crescent and four miles of East Beach Road. This project will take an estimated three construction seasons to complete and will address safety and long-term maintenance issues.
Project information is updated regularly on this webpage. Follow @OlympicNP on Twitter for additional notifications.
When planning to drive around Lake Crescent, here are 3 important reminders:
1. Delays: In general, drivers should expect up to a half-hour total stop time Monday-Friday during weekday work hours. Watch for flaggers/pilot car/traffic signals controlling traffic throughout 12-mile work zone. For safety, bicycle traffic is subject to the same delays as other traffic. Bicyclists should be prepared for construction conditions in the work zone.
Longer delays can be scheduled prior to Memorial Day weekend and will be announced in advance.
2. Work hours: Work hours will vary according to season and daylength. Beginning April 1, road work is restricted to two hours after sunrise to two hours before sunset. Please watch for flaggers and expect heavy truck traffic through the construction zone.
3. No weekend or holiday work: Work will occur on weekdays only and will not be scheduled on major holidays or weekends.
First layer of paving completed at Lake Crescent on Highway 101. Guardrail installation will continue in 2019.
Marty Flores/FHWA
The major work for the final season of the project will include completing the guardrail replacement, restoring the road width near milepost 229, paving the final 2-1/2" wearing surface, and striping.
Overview of Yearly U.S. Highway 101 Construction Schedule
November 17, 2018 — March 17, 2019
No construction. Temporary traffic signals removed.
March 18-31, 2019
Expect half-hour delays during weekday work hours, with short delays after-hours to accommodate alternating single lane traffic.
Limited 4-hour delays (9am-1pm Mondays through Thursdays only) and 6-hour overnight delays (10pm-4am Mondays through Wednesdays only) may be scheduled and will be announced in advance.
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 (9am-1pm Mondays through Thursdays only) and will be announced in advance.
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.
Good to Know
Construction will occur on Highway 101 on weekdays only.
Work hours will vary according to season and daylength.
April 1 - September 23: work may begin two hours after sunrise and must stop two hours before sunset.
East Beach Road rehab is complete.
Emergency vehicles will have access during scheduled 4-hour and 6-hour delays.
