Weather permitting, drivers traveling westbound on U.S. Highway 101 will use a new bridge at Siebert Creek.

As soon as 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 8, contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will shift one lane of westbound traffic onto the new bridge near Blue Mountain Road.

The new span improves migration for salmon who travel and spawn beneath the highway, state officials said this week.

The change creates a new work zone at Siebert Creek that allows crews to install new guardrail, finish paving and other tasks.

If weather does not cooperate, the traffic shift will be rescheduled for the next available dry weather day.

Eastbound traffic shifted onto a new bridge at Bagley Creek further west two weeks prior. Construction at Bagley Creek is associated with this WSDOT project.

The remaining travel lanes at both Siebert and Bagley Creeks will move into their final configuration late this fall.

Work to restore salmon migration at Bagley Creek and Siebert Creek is nearly complete, state officials said. Crews replaced multiple outdated culverts with larger fish passable structures or bridges. This $36 million project opens 41 miles of potential upstream habitat for several fish species.