SHINE — State crews were working Tuesday morning to reopen U.S. Highway 101 which was closed Sunday night from the intersection with state Highway 104 to Hoodsport.

Local traffic is permitted on 101, said Doug Adamson, state Department of Transportation spokesperson, Tuesday morning.

“So if you live in Quilcene, you can get home,” he said.

A sudden nighttime snowstorm on Sunday dumped large amounts of snow west of the Hood Canal Bridge, causing massive damage that was still being cleaned up Tuesday morning, Adamson said.

“The snow came down onto trees and brought down power lines and power poles,” he said.

“It was closed Sunday night” at 9:20 p.m. “and remained that way.”

Crews were out working to reopen the highway Tuesday morning after Jefferson County Public Utility District crews removed downed lines and power poles, allowing DOT crews to plow the roadway, Adamson said.

“We understand that it is very difficult for us to close this large an area of the highway,” he said.

“It was a tremendous snow event that caused a lot of damage.”