UPDATE to earlier story.
Olympic National Park News Release
Highway 101 to remain closed through Lake Crescent area pending thorough safety assessment
Highway 101 along Lake Crescent will remain closed pending an assessment by
a geotechnical engineer from the Western Federal Lands Highway Division.
The road was closed today following a rock slide at Milepost 228 at
approximately 11:30 a.m.
The rock slide occurred while construction crews were working on a rock
bolting and scaling project on the cliff face next to the road. Two men
sustained minor injuries and an excavator was damaged by the falling rocks.
Rocks up to six feet in diameter have covered a 10 foot stretch of the
road.
Due to the nature of the loose rock, geotechnical engineers have been
called in to examine whether the rock face is stable enough to continue
construction and reopen the road. Until they determine that US 101 can be
safely reopened, motorists will be detoured onto State Routes 112 and 113.
“Safety is our number one concern right now,” said Acting Superintendent
Todd Suess. “We are relieved no one was seriously injured in the rock
slide and are taking all the necessary steps to insure the road is safe to
reopen.”
Temporary detour signs have been placed at the Highway 101-Highway 112
intersection at Laird’s Corner just west of Port Angeles and at the Highway
101-Highway 113 intersection at Sappho. Motorists traveling eastbound from
Forks may drive as far as Barnes Point and Lake Crescent Lodge. Westbound
traffic from the Port Angeles area may drive as far as East Beach Road.
Current road information is available by calling Olympic National Park’s
information line at 360-565-3131 or online nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/
current-road-conditions.htm
October 17, 2012
For Immediate Release
Barb Maynes 360-565-3005 barb_maynes@nps.gov
Rainey McKenna 360-565-2985 rainey_mckenna@nps.gov
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Earlier story:
Olympic National Park News Release
October 17, 2012
A rock slide at Milepost 228 has closed Highway101 along Lake Crescent.
All through traffic has been detoured from the Lake Crescent area to Highway 112.
Temporary detour signs are being placed by Washington State Department of Transportation employees at the Highway 101-Highway 112 intersection at Laird’s Corner just west of Port Angeles and at the Highway 101-Highway 113 intersection at Sappho.
A rock scaling and cliff bolting project has been ongoing at Milepost 228 since October 5. The rock slides began late yesterday and have continued today, damaging contractor equipment and endangering human life and safety.
The road was closed today at 11:30 a.m.
The road will remain closed to all use until engineers determine that it is safe to reopen. No timeline has been established yet. Updates and more information will be released as they become available.
Current road information is available by calling Olympic National Park’s information line at 360-565-3131 or online at nps.gov/olym/.
Barb Maynes 360-565-3005
Rainey McKenna 360-565-2985
