Lake Crescent Highway 101 Rehabilitation 2017-19

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 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.

For information in real-time on traffic impacts for Highway 101, check the Washington Department of Transportation Traffic Alert website https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/trafficalerts/.

 

Final year of three-year project nearing completion

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. A pilot car will guide traffic within work areas with alternating lanes. For safety, bicycle traffic is subject to the same delays as other traffic.

2. Work hours: Currently, approximate work hours are from 7:00 am to 7:30 pm. However, drivers should expect flaggers on the road setting up signs and/or equipment before work begins and after work ends. Work hours will vary according to season and daylength. As of April 1 through late September, 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.

Check out the Federal Highways Project Website for more information.

For the Week of July 22

Daily 2-Hour Delay for Permanent Striping Scheduled on July 23, 24 &25

Daily 2-hour delay scheduled from 9:00 am to 11:00 am (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday). These delays are necessary for the final centerline striping of the new road surface. This work is weather dependent and will be postponed if necessary.

During the striping process, workers will be in the roadway removing the temporary reflective tabs from the centerline. The delay allows this work to be completed safely. Outside of the two-hour delays, drivers should continue to expect the normal half-hour delays during weekday work hours. The fog line striping will be achieved within the normal half-hour delays with a pilot car guiding traffic.

During the two-hour delay:

• On July 23 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am: Lake Crescent Lodge will only be accessible from Highway 101 eastbound from Forks. Highway 101 westbound from Port Angeles will remain open up to mile marker 232/East Beach Road.

• On July 24 and 25 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am: Lake Crescent Lodge will be accessible from Highway 101 westbound from Port Angeles.

• On July 25 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am: Fairholme Campground and Camp David Jr. Road will not be accessible.

The Fairholme Hill area will be striped on July 26 using half-hour delays and a pilot car guiding traffic.

To avoid the two-hour delays, travelers should plan ahead to drive through the construction zone before 9:00 am or wait until after 11:00 pm.

Access for emergency vehicles during the two-hour delay will be coordinated using established communication procedures with the traffic control supervisor.

Travelers to and from the western side of the peninsula can use State Route 112/113 as an alternate route during the delay. For traffic information in real-time check the WSDOT Traffic Alert website at https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/trafficalerts/.

This is the final season of the three-year road rehabilitation project. Work for 2019 included completing the guardrail replacement, paving the final 2-1/2" wearing surface, striping, sign replacement, and restoring the road width near milepost 229.

To avoid excessive impacts on summer traffic, the work to restore the roadway width and shoulder area in front of the rock wall near milepost 229 will begin after Labor Day. The work will require 4-hour delays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Monday through Thursday beginning September 3. Final paving in the short section of road in front of the rock wall will also be completed at that time.

 

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 includes completing the guardrail replacement, restoring the road width near milepost 229, paving the final 2-1/2" wearing surface, striping, and sign replacement.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About the Lake Crescent Highway 101 Rehabilitation Project

 

Overview of Yearly U.S. Highway 101 Construction Schedule

After Memorial Day 2019—September 2, 2019 (Labor Day)

• Expect half-hour delays during weekday work hours, with short delays after-hours to accommodate alternating single lane traffic.
• Potential longer delays to complete final striping. Will be announced in advance.

After Labor Day 2019 - late September/Project Completion

• 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.

 

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.