PORT ANGELES — Full-scale recovery of human remains and artifacts will begin Monday at the Hood Canal Bridge graving yard.
The work coincides with construction — and overnight traffic restrictions — on the Hood Canal Bridge to widen its western half.
An agreement between the state and the archaeologist who will complete the excavation of Klallam remains at the graving yard site was signed privately last week and executed Friday, said Lloyd Brown, state Department of Transportation’s communications manager for the Olympic region.
The contract clears the way for four months of archaeological excavation at an estimated cost of $4.5 million to the state.
About 50 miles east on the floating bridge, work will start on the Jefferson County side on Monday and continue through October.
Construction workers will place a new barrier in the eastbound lane, re-stripe new travel lanes, remove existing bridge rail, install new support beams and add deck width.
Construction will reduce the current 12-foot lanes to 11 feet and cut shoulder width from 3 feet to 1 foot. Wide-load vehicles will require special permission to cross the bridge during construction, and pedestrians will be prohibited. Bicyclists must ride in traffic across the bridge.
Work hours are 8 p.m. to 4:30 a.m., but daytime motorists will encounter the narrower travel lanes.