Traffic snarl surprises work crews

DOT reevaluating getting Port Angeles work done

PORT ANGELES — Apologies. We are taking measures to see that it doesn’t happen again.

That’s the word from the state Department of Transportation after roadwork just west of Golf Course Road on U.S. Highway 101 backed up traffic coming into Port Angeles from the east for several miles on Tuesday morning.

Workers had blocked off the left lane on Front Street to allow them to seal cracks in the pavement.

Traffic was slowed to a crawl for many miles, making some late for work or appointments by as much as a half hour to 45 minutes.

“We want to apologize to those who were late,” said Doug Adamson, DOT spokesman.

“That type of backup was not expected of the work we were doing. After we realized what was going on, the crews pulled off the road.”

Adamson said that crew members are evaluating how to get the work done without causing a traffic snarl.

“We do our best to keep people moving while we fix the road,” he said. “We know what it’s like to be late to work.

“Our whole job is to keep people and commerce moving. People were late and delayed, and that’s not what we want to have happen,” he said.

“The bottom line is, we’re going to take a look at it” and either pull crew off the roadway earlier in the day or change the timing of the work.

One issue DOT is dealing with is that the department is playing catchup. Work that generally would be accomplished in the spring, before the tourist season, was delayed because of wet weather.

“A lot of things came together to create an unintended situation,” Adamson said.

“We want to fix the road, but we don’t want to make anyone late.”

The roadwork was not announced in an alert because it was not expected to cause a big problem, Adamson said.

________

Executive Editor Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3530 or at lleach@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Kelly and Dan Freeman of Port Ludlow examine a 1958 Edsel on display during Friday evening’s 29th annual Ruddell Cruise-In at Ruddell Auto in Port Angeles. The event featured hundreds of antique and vintage automobiles from across the region as well as food, music and other activities. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Classic show

Kelly and Dan Freeman of Port Ludlow examine a 1958 Edsel on… Continue reading

Sequim School District officials report it could take upwards of 2 1/2 years to break ground on a new elementary school. Voters approved a $146 million, 20-year construction bond in a Feb. 11 special election that includes a new elementary school, renovated high school and more. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim schools eye bond timeline

Bigger projects may be 2 years away

Sequim volunteer Emily Westcott has led the flower basket program along Washington Street since 1996. This year she’s retired to focus on other endeavors, and the city of Sequim and the Sequim School District will continue the partnership. Westcott is still seeking donations for downtown Sequim Christmas decorations through the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim flower basket program shifts to city, school partnership

Westcott retires, plans to keep decorating downtown for Christmas

Clallam first in state to implement jail healthcare program

County eligible to apply for Medicare reimbursement for services

Writers to converge in Port Townsend to work on craft

Free readings open to the public next week

Firefighters extinguish blaze in fifth-floor hotel room

Firefighters from East Jefferson Fire Rescue and Navy Region… Continue reading

Mowing operation scheduled along Lake Crescent on Tuesday

Work crews from the state Department of Transportation will… Continue reading

EYE ON THE PENINSULA: County commissioners set to meet next week

Meetings across the North Olympic Peninsula

Peninsula Behavioral Health head discusses the fallout from federal bill

Anticipated cuts to Medicaid could devastate rural communities like Clallam County, leading… Continue reading

Tool library to open in Port Townsend

Drills, saws and more available to borrow

Fire restriction implemented on federal lands

Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park have restricted campfires… Continue reading