By Pepper Fisher

PORT ANGELES – Peninsula travelers will have a brand new bridge to cross over the Elwha River west of Port Angeles by July 22, but getting it completed on time won’t come without some inconvenience to motorists.

Construction crews are in the homestretch, and that means beginning as early as Monday, June 24, the stretch of road at the current bridge will have around-the-clock one-way alternating traffic controlled by traffic signals. A signal will be near each end of the bridge. The speed limit will be reduced to 35 mph. The reduced speed limit will take effect once signs are uncovered.

WSDOT will confirm the exact start date of the one-way alternating traffic once the date is available from the contractor.

Then it’ll be time to prepare for the big one, the 9 day closure of Highway 101 at the Elwha River Bridge will close at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 12. It will reopen at 5 a.m. Monday, July 22, and whoever is in line that morning will be among the first to cross the new, $42 million span.

During the 9 day closure, travelers will detour onto State Route 112 and SR 113.

The road closure will allow crews to build a section of highway approaching the new bridge and remove the portion approaching the old span.

WSDOT’s Mark Krulish says once the new bridge is open, crews begin the next big phase of the project.

“Yes, it is. Once we open the new bridge on Monday, July 22, our contractor crews are going to get to work, basically right away, on demolishing the old bridge. The entire project will be wrapped up by the fall, and that includes the demolition of the old bridge. So, work is going to move pretty quickly on that.”

After construction of the new highway section is complete, traffic will be routed onto it and the new Elwha River Bridge.

Crews will also continue installing large woody material in the river beneath the bridge to help restore the river to more natural conditions.