SHINE — The state Department of Transportation has reported an additional delay beginning today on state Highway 104 while a temporary traffic signal is installed.
The state agency had reported on Wednesday that a culvert-replacement detour will divert traffic on U.S. Highway 101 north of Quilcene and slow traffic on state Highway 104 beginning at 9 a.m. today and continuing for 22 days until 7 p.m. Aug. 21.
Highway 101 will be closed from Leland Valley Road to Leland Cut Off Road and non-commercial traffic on Highway 101 will be detoured onto Center Road.
A temporary traffic signal will be installed at the intersection of Center Road and Highway 104.
DOT announced Friday that the installation will lead to one-way alternating traffic at the intersection near milepost 4.3 from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. today.
It will be after the traffic signal is activated that construction crews will close Highway 101 from Leland Valley Road to Leland Cut Off Road and start the detour.
The speed limit also will be reduced on Highway 104 from 60 mph to 35 mph between milepost 4.08 and milepost 4.62. The reduced speed limit is enforceable once the signs are uncovered.
Commercial vehicles will not be able to use the Center Road detour because of weight restrictions on the southern end of the detour, DOT said. They will have to detour between state Highway 3 in Shelton and the state Highway 104 Hood Canal Bridge.
The temporary signal is needed while crews replace culverts at two tributaries that feed into Leland Creek, DOT said.
“The new, larger culverts simulate a more natural creek environment, which will help make it easier for fish to pass through the area during migration,” DOT said.
For a map of the area and more information, see https://wsdotblog.blogspot.com/2023/07/us-101-closure-north-of-quilcene.html.
Travelers can sign up for email updates for projects in Clallam and Jefferson counties at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOT/subscriber/new?topic_id=WADOT_542.
Real-time traffic information is available on the WSDOT app.
