By Pepper Fisher

PORT ANGELES – Some major roadwork along Highway 101 in in Port Angeles has been delayed by the Washington State Department of Transportation.

The project to remove and replace several outdated culverts under Highway 101 at Lees, Ennis and Tumwater Creeks, which were scheduled to begin this summer, has now been pushed back until next spring. The culverts will be replaced with buried bridges for improved fish migration as part of a federally mandated, statewide program that must be completed by 2030.

The $50 million three-stage project is expected to affect Port Angeles traffic flow for 2 years once it’s under way.

WSDOT’s Tina Werner says the delay is due to complications in the geotechnical and structural design elements. She says in order to complete the additional analyses accurately, they were forced to extend the design timelines.

As for the Highway 101 Elwha River Bridge replacement project, Werner says they are finalizing environmental permits, right of entry, federal documentation, and tribal agreements with all parties involved. The DOT expects to advertise the project to the contracting community late this summer, and possibly begin preliminary construction this fall. Work to replace the Elwha River Bridge will take place over two years.

These projects have project webpages associated with them as well as information on their real-time travel map. You can also  follow on social media and sign up for email alerts to stay informed about local road projects.

(Banner graphic shows locations of culvert projects.)