PORT ANGELES — The long-awaited highway crossing at Deer Park Road is one step closer to becoming a reality.

Clallam County commissioners Tuesday approved a contract supplement with the state Department of Transportation for the use of right of way on both sides of U.S. Highway 101 near the scenic overlook east of Port Angeles at the top of the Morse Creek S-curve.

The supplement was a $260,000 reduction from an earlier agreement to reflect that the state is not charging the county to use the gravel pit behind Deer Park Cinemas and the overlook on the north side of the highway.

Tuesday’s 3-0 vote will allow road officials to begin to purchase the other right of way within the next month, Transportation Program Manager Rich James said.

“We hope to get it out to bid this year,” James said.

Construction will begin late this year or in early 2012.

“It will be cool to see that project get done,” County Administrator Jim Jones said.

Clallam County is building a new road with a 50-foot-wide undercrossing of the state highway near Buchanan Drive.

Most of the $7 million cost is covered by federal and state transportation grants. The county’s $2 million share comes from the real estate excise tax.

The two-lane road and 10-foot-wide bicycle and pedestrian path will eliminate left turns onto the highway from Deer Park Road and Buchanan Drive. County officials said there are backups and a high pattern of traffic accidents in those intersections.

Port Angeles-bound motorists coming from Deer Park Cinemas or Wilder Auto will take the underpass and loop clockwise to Buchanan Drive, then merge with highway traffic on a westbound acceleration lane.

Sequim-bound drivers coming from Cedar Park Road, Buchanan Drive or C’est Si Bon restaurant will take the underpass, loop behind the theater and merge with eastbound traffic at Deer Park Road.

The existing highway grade will not change.