Work crews will begin chip sealing and bridge maintenance this summer. (State Department of Transportation)

Work crews will begin chip sealing and bridge maintenance this summer. (State Department of Transportation)

U.S. Highway 101 and state Highway 19 to have work done this summer

Drivers should expect day work, single-lane closures

North Olympic Peninsula drivers can expect delays during the summer while the state Department of Transportation works on chip seal repairs along nearly 60 miles of U.S. Highway 101 and state Highway 19.

Crews from Doolittle Construction, LLC of Bellevue, contracted by WSDOT, will begin site preparations along Highway 101 at milepost 192 near Forks starting as soon as May 3, officials said.

During the construction, drivers can expect single-lane closures with flaggers, WSDOT said in a press release.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Speed limits will be reduced to 35 mph from the time gravel is placed on the road surface until after the excess has been swept away, officials said.

Crews will work across multiple locations to resurface the pavement and also to replace expansion joints on six state bridges.

All of the work requires warm, dry weather so drivers will be impacted by crews working during the day, WSDOT said. The work is expected to be finished in the fall.

“We know that anywhere from 2,000 to 4,000 vehicles a day travel U.S. 101 and SR 19 in Clallam, Jefferson and Mason counties,” said Project Engineer Karen Boone in the press release.

“Chip sealing is a cost-effective solution to repair damaged pavement at one-fifth the price of traditional paving with comparable results.”

The total cost for this project, which also includes a bridge and 15 miles of Highway 101 in Mason County, is $9,375,000.

Chip sealing keeps water from penetrating the road structure, provides an anti-glare surface during wet weather and an increased reflective surface for night driving, minimizes the effects of aging and provides a skid-resistant surface, particularly on wet pavements, according to the WSDOT press release.

The work zones for this project are Highway 19, from state Highway 104 to south of West Valley Road, milepost 0.1 to 9.5; Highway 101 from Highway 104 to the Quilcene River Bridge, milepost 285.2 to 296.7; from Johnson Road to Riverside Road, milepost 192 to 210.5; and from east of Fisher Cove Road to west of Indian Creek, milepost 231.4 to 234.6.

Work crews will replace worn expansion joints and conduct routine bridge maintenance on five Highway 101 crossings: the Calawah River bridge at milepost 192.4; bridges across the Sol Duc River at mileposts 194.3, 203.2 and 203.7; and the Bear Creek bridge at milepost 206.

Real-time traffic information is available on the WSDOT app and the WSDOT regional Twitter account.

More in News

Sunlight reflects off the skull of Gunther, the California gray whale carcass on display on the pier in Port Townsend. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
The golden hour

Sunlight reflects off the skull of Gunther, the California gray whale carcass… Continue reading

The state is looking to turn Miller Peninsula, a 2,800-acre undeveloped park east of Sequim, into a destination state park with a visitors center, cabins, picnic areas and more. Some locals oppose the move. (Warren Wilson)
Opponents want park to stay day use

State updates plan for Miller Peninsula

Sequim staff plan to send a proposal to the state this month to potentially fund sewer and water lift stations on West Sequim Bay Road using new developments’ property taxes through a Tax Increment Area by Sequim Bay in a 363-acre area. It would require the city to prove that developments in the area wouldn’t happen without the stations. The city council also would have to approve it. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim exploring funding mechanism to incentivize development

City would create district, repurpose tax dollars for lift stations

Fred Rix of Port Angeles, right, looks over floral arrangements with Ann O’Neill, an employee of Angel Crest Gardens of Port Angeles at a temporary stand at First and Race streets in Port Angeles on Valentine’s Day. Rix said he wanted roses for his wife, Wendy Rix, for their 55th wedding anniversary. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Valentine’s roses

Fred Rix of Port Angeles, right, looks over floral arrangements with Ann… Continue reading

Port Angeles-owned Lancashire Heeler “Ki” poses with handler and co-owner Chelsy Pendleton of Utah with their ribbon. Ki placed as Best of Opposite Sex at the 149th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
PA dog places at famous show

Lancashire Heeler wins ribbon at Westminster

x
Nominations open for Community Service awards

Forms due March 25; event scheduled for May 1

Poplars to be removed in spring

Boat Yard expansion part of larger project

Jeffco Aquatic Coalition launches pool survey

Results intended to inform design process

Voters approving all Peninsula school measures

Sequim bond passing with required supermajority

A snow-covered Mount Angeles is seen from Black Diamond Road a few miles south of Port Angeles. While the Peninsula has seen temperatures below freezing this week, a warming trend is expected by this weekend with highs reaching the upper 40s and overnight lows in the 30s. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Winter snowscape

A snow-covered Mount Angeles is seen from Black Diamond Road a few… Continue reading