OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — The first five miles of Hurricane Ridge Road, from the intersection with Mount Angeles Road to the Heart o’ the Hills entrance station, is closed to bicyclists and pedestrians during weekday work hours during a road rehabilitation project.
Bicyclists and pedestrians who want to travel Hurricane Ridge Road are encouraged to drive to the Heart o’ the Hills campground picnic area to start their trip and avoid the work zone, said Penny Wagner, Olympic National Park spokeswoman. The move came into effect after Memorial Day.
The five-month project to rehabilitate the first five miles of Hurricane Ridge Road began in mid-April.
The road work includes utility work, pavement rehabilitation, culvert installation, guardrail installation and paving.
Drivers should expect delays of up to 20 minutes in both directions during weekday work hours.
The $6.9 million road rehabilitation project is a partnership between the National Park Service, the Federal Highway Administration and state contractor Columbia Pacific Construction, Inc. of Woodland.
The contractor aims to have the road far enough along for the Ride the Hurricane on Aug. 5.
Afterward, paving will need to be done.
The park will reopen the road to bicycle and pedestrian traffic on weekdays in late August.
For more information about visiting the park, see www.nps.gov/olym or call the recorded Road & Weather Hotline at 360-565-3131 for daily updates.
