PORT ANGELES — Construction work on U.S. Highway 101 west of Port Angeles that snarled traffic earlier this week was only the beginning of a long project.

An 11.6-mile-long paving project on U.S. Highway 101 from the Tumwater Truck Route to Lake Sutherland will begin at 7 p.m. Monday and is not expected to be complete until fall.

There will be several phases of the project, said Jerry Moore, state Department of Transportation project supervisor.

Pre-project work, including the filling of badly damaged sections on roadway, was completed earlier this week after signs were placed to warn drivers of the impending project.

That early work and the placement of signage has already caused traffic backups and confusion for residents who live along the route.

Complaints

Residents have complained about signs in the middle of both Doyle and Old Joe roads asking drivers to stop and wait for the pilot car.

Those signs are in the way because of the lack of a shoulder and to make sure that drivers notice the signs, Moore said.

He said the concern was that drivers from side roads might not see signs placed too far off the road and could pull out the wrong way into oncoming traffic.

“It’s hard to fail to see a sign if you have to go around it,” Moore said.

Those signs are placed on lightly used roads where drivers can pull partially into the other lane to avoid the signs, he said.

The preparation work was completed Wednesday.

No additional delays are expected until Monday evening, Moore said.

The worn and damaged stretch of Highway 101 will be ground and repaved, then lines and rumble strips will be replaced.

The entire project should be complete within 60 working days, he said.

For the first two weeks, crews will work at night on the busy stretch of Highway 101 between the Tumwater Truck Route and the Highway 112.

The night work will avoid long backups during the work day and commuter hours, Moore said.

Work will start at 7 p.m. and end by 7 a.m.

Traffic is expected to be delayed by 15 to 20 minutes.

Drivers are required to follow pilot vehicles, including those entering the highway from intersecting streets, Moore said.

There are no official detour routes, he said.

Work on that section of road is expected to be complete by Aug. 5, depending on the weather, Moore said.

Day work

Daytime work between Highway 112 and Lake Sutherland will begin on or about Aug. 6, Moore said.

Because of endangered bird activity, crews will be limited to working only daylight hours through Sept. 15, he said.

After Sept. 15, the contractor will be able to work as needed.

If necessary, crews may work day and night to meet the deadline, Moore said.

Moore asked for the community’s cooperation and understanding.

Freshly paved areas are soft — driving on unattended, freshly paved areas can damage the new pavement, he said.

Moore asked that drivers avoid unattended but blocked stretches of road that seem to have no construction activity.

It may be freshly paved or have large holes, or other less obvious work is going on.

“We can get through this,” Moore said.

“Just be patient.”

________

Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.