Bridge construction means reduced lanes, slower speed limits

Travelers heading to Forks will encounter more than vampire and werewolf teen fiction fans the next couple of summers. Starting March 4, travelers will see a new work zone at the Jefferson-Clallam county line for a multi-year project to improve fish passage and habitat under US 101.

Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will start building a temporary bridge to keep people moving around the work zone.

Travelers will see one-way alternating traffic on US 101 while crews build the temporary bridge. Once the temporary bridge is in place, a temporary signal will alternate travelers on the single-lane bridge. Starting March 6, the speed limit on US 101 will be reduced to 25 mph from the current 55 mph between mileposts 184 and 185. The reduced speed limit and temporary configuration will remain in place until fall 2026 when the project is complete.

Crews will build a new 175-foot-long girder bridge to replace an outdated culvert that blocks fish migration in May Creek. May Creek is a tributary to the Bogachiel River.

Once complete, this project will open about 8 miles of potential habitat for salmon and other species.

Another fish project will affect travel on US 101 in Jefferson and Clallam counties this summer. The US 101/Northwest US 101 – Remove Fish Barriers project will replace outdated culverts at five locations. Initial work will begin mid-March for one of the sites on US 101 about 6 miles northeast of Ruby Beach. Travelers will see single-lane alternating traffic briefly this spring. Construction will begin at all five locations this summer.

WSDOT will provide more information on this project when construction schedules are finalized.

Work zone safety

Please slow down and pay attention when traveling through work zones to protect crews and all users of the roadway. Unlike vampires and werewolves, roadworkers are real people with families to get home to.