The contract for rehabilitation of 12 miles of the Lake Crescent section of U.S. Highway 101 and four miles of East Beach Road has been awarded to Strider Construction Company, Inc. of Bellingham. The $27.5 million project will address long-term safety and maintenance concerns along the two roads.
The project will improve subsurface pavement conditions, apply new pavement, stabilize slopes, repair retaining walls, improve drainage, replace failing culverts, replace guardrails, mitigate rockfall hazards and improve intersections. The project also will improve the Sledgehammer Point overlook, including construction of accessible pedestrian paths, curbing, exhibit, seat walls and new park entrance sign. A transit stop will be constructed in the Barnes Point area in cooperation with Clallam Transit.
“We are very pleased to move forward with our Federal Highway Administration partners on this important project,” said Sarah Creachbaum, superintendent of Olympic National Park. “Now that the contract has been awarded, the contractor will begin developing detailed construction plans and assembling materials and equipment for construction to start late next month.”
Construction is slated to begin in late April this year and will take place over three construction seasons. The project is being managed collaboratively by the Federal Highway Administration and the National Park Service.
The construction schedule will vary throughout the season to reduce impacts to the public while still allowing safe and efficient road work. Work will occur on weekdays only and will not be scheduled on holidays or weekends.
An outline of the yearly schedule for Highway 101 is provided below.
April— Late May
• Half-hour delays during work hours, with short delays after-hours to accommodate alternating single lane traffic.
• Limited 4-hour delays may be scheduled (from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. only) and must be announced two weeks in advance.
Memorial Day —
Labor Day (summer season)
• Half-hour delays during work hours, with short delays after-hours to accommodate alternating single lane traffic.
Early September — Mid November
• Half-hour delays during work hours, with short delays after-hours to accommodate alternating single lane traffic.
• Limited 4-hour delays (from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. only) and 6-hour overnight delays (10 p.m.-4 a.m only) may be scheduled and must be announced two weeks in advance.
Mid November —
February
• No construction anticipated
March (2018
and 2019 only)
• Half-hour delays during work hours, with short delays after-hours to accommodate alternating single lane traffic.
• Limited 4-hour delays and 6-hour overnight delays may be scheduled and will be announced two weeks in advance.
The annual construction schedule, Frequently Asked Questions and additional information are available on the Olympic National Park website at www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/lake-crescent-highway-101-rehabilitation-2017-19.htm.
