PORT ANGELES — U.S. Highway 101 will be closed at the rock scaling zone from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today for paving.

Paving through the rock scaling zone, which is the area near milepost 229, is necessary due to large potholes created in the road from falling rocks, said Penny Wagner, Olympic National Park spokeswoman.

The road damage is slowing traffic to the point that very few cars are able to get through the timed traffic light during non-work hours, resulting in fewer cars and trucks making it through in between timed delays, she said.

Olympic National Park officials and project partners at the Federal Highway Administration made the decision to close Highway 101 in the rock scaling zone to all traffic to mitigate future traffic delays, she added.

Highway 101 eastbound from Forks will remain open up to the turn for Barnes Point where Lake Crescent Lodge, Storm King Information Station, NatureBridge and the trailheads are located.

Highway 101 westbound from Port Angeles will remain open up to mile marker 223/East Beach Road. Travelers to the western side of the Peninsula can use state Highway 112 as an alternate route during the closure.

Construction work will continue during the closure on other portions of the project outside the rock scaling area, and travelers on Highway 101 at Lake Crescent should continue to expect half-hour delays Mondays through Fridays during work hours.

Work began in the spring on the $27.5 million project to rehabilitate 12 miles of U.S. Highway 101 around Lake Crescent and East Beach Road. The National Park Service and Federal Highway Administration are managing the project.

Rock scaling work was completed during a complete Highway 101 closure Sept. 11-15.

Maps of the area and current project information are available on the park website at http://tinyurl.com/PDN-101delays.