PORT ANGELES — The next phase of work on the Spruce Railroad Trail is set to begin today.

The work is expected to be completed by mid-April, said Penny Wagner, park spokeswoman.

Until then, the entire 4-mile trail along Lake Crescent will be closed to all traffic between the Camp David Jr. Road trailhead and the Lyre River trailhead.

The closure is to protect public safety, Wagner said in a press release.

The phase will be completed by Bruch & Bruch Construction and involves tree removal.

After the trail reopens in mid-April, erosion control measures will be in place but trail users should be prepared for rough, muddy conditions, Wagner said.

The trail will remain open from mid-April until the next phase of work which is projected to begin in August and which will necessitate another trial closure, Wagner said.

The trees removed from sections of the Spruce Railroad Trail, some complete with root wads, are used to preserve fish habitat in road damage repairs along rivers, Wagner said.

Logs from earlier tree removal operations on this project were used in park road repairs on Olympic Hot Springs Road, Graves Creek Road and Quinault North Shore Road, she said.

Trees removed during this phase will be used by Jefferson County for an upcoming project on Upper Hoh Road.

“The removal of trees for this project to provide for visitor access was very selective and went through analysis to mitigate impacts to the environment,” Wagner said.

Upcoming work will include restoring the Daley Rankin Tunnel, rockfall mitigation, retaining wall construction and finishing the remaining trail improvements, Wagner said.

Paving the length of the trail and the Lyre River Trailhead parking area is to be the final phase.

Completion of the Spruce Railroad Trail project is anticipated by summer 2020.

The Spruce Railroad Trail improvements are part of a multi-year collaborative project to establish the entire 10-mile length of the trail as a universally accessible, multipurpose trail to be shared by hikers, bicyclists, equestrians and people traveling in wheelchairs.

Clallam County and Olympic National Park are jointly funding the project. Federal Highway Administration staff provide construction management and general contract oversight.

The Spruce Railroad Trail follows the historic railroad grade of the Spruce Railroad, built in 1918 and abandoned in 1951.

When the project is completed, it will become part of the 134-mile long Olympic Discovery Trail that will eventually connect Port Townsend to La Push.

For current trail, road and travel information, see www.nps.gov/olym or call the recorded road and weather hotline at 360-565-3131.