Procession will close some Port Angeles streets, U.S. 101 into town

Published 5:16 am Sunday, September 28, 2008

Those traveling west on U.S. Highway 101 to Monday’s 1 p.m. memorial for fallen U.S. Forest Service Officer Kristine Fairbanks would do well to arrive at Civic Field in Port Angeles by 11 a.m., said Brandan Schulze, Forest Service spokesperson.

A procession of law enforcement vehicles — thousands of law enforcement officers are expected — will begin from the old Kmart parking lot at Masters Road and Highway 101 at 11 a.m., he said.

Westbound lanes of the highway will be closed during the procession — for at least an hour, or until the procession ends.

Several streets around Civic Field, which is on Race Street between Second and Fourth streets, will be closed beginning at 8 a.m. Monday.

The closure, which will continue until the 90-minute service is over, is for security reasons, said Donna Nemeth, Forest Service spokesperson.

The streets that will be closed are:

  • Race Street between Second and Fifth streets.

  • Francis Street between Second and Fifth streets.

  • Washington Street between First and Fifth streets.

  • East Second Street between Francis and Washington streets.

  • East Fourth Street between Francis and Chamber streets.

  • East Third Street between Washington and Chamber streets.

    Public transportation will be available.

    Clallam Transit System and the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe will operate free shuttles every 15 minutes from three parking areas in Port Angeles.

    Clallam Transit also will provide free round trips to Civic Field from Forks, where Fairbanks lived.

    Routes and times of service include:

  • Front and Oak Streets from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

  • Clallam County Fairgrounds L Street entrance from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

  • From the Forks Transit Center, two special buses will leave at 10:45 a.m. The regularly scheduled 11 a.m. bus is also scheduled to stop at Civic Field.

    Return shuttles will operate as long as necessary.

    Brian Smith, Port Angeles deputy police chief, said handling the influx of traffic will be a challenge.

    “The results of planning will be evident on Monday,” he added.