Crews will now begin demolition of nearly 100-year old original span

PORT ANGELES – Now that the first vehicles have crossed its span, a project almost eight years in the making can be crossed off the list: The long-awaited new bridge over the Elwha River on US 101 is now open to traffic.

At 4 p.m. Sunday, July 21, the brand-new span welcomed its first travelers. Opening the new bridge also marked the end of a nine-day closure that detoured traffic onto state routes 112 and 113.

Opening the new bridge is the culmination of nearly eight years of work by the Washington State Department of Transportation that included public outreach, an environmental review, and design analysis and selection. Construction began in April 2023.

“The US 101 Elwha River Bridge is a critical lifeline that connects Olympic Peninsula communities,” said WSDOT Olympic Region Administrator Steve Roark. “We are thrilled that the bridge is now open for all to enjoy. Opening the new US 101 Elwha River Bridge is the result of long-term commitments and coordination between WSDOT, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Clallam County and the National Park Service.”

The new bridge is 40 feet wide, which is 12 feet wider than the old bridge. It has two, 12-foot-wide lanes and two, 8-foot-wide shoulders. The project also realigned US 101 near the bridge to create a gentler curve traveling west down the hill approaching the bridge.

WSDOT thanks travelers for their patience and understanding during the nine-day closure. The closure allowed crews to build sections of US 101 that connect to the new bridge.

More work ahead at the Elwha River

Although the new bridge is complete, work will continue at the site. Contractor crews will quickly begin the process of demolishing the old bridge. To do this, crews will temporarily divert the river to one side of the bridge. Crews will then demolish half of the bridge. WSDOT will work to prevent any debris from falling into the river, including construction of platforms beneath the bridge to catch debris.