Night travelers should plan extra time for trips along US 101 between Sequim and Gardiner Sept. 29-Nov. 6. From 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Thursday, construction crews will reduce travel lanes and alternate traffic for a variety of construction activities. More information in "What to expect" section below.
Project overview
This project addresses multiple barriers to fish under US 101 between Sequim and Discovery Bay.
What to expect
Nighttime travelers who use US 101 between Sequim and Gardiner should plan for weeknight lane closures.
Crews will perform a variety of construction activities overnight. Work will occur on sections of the highway between milepost 267 and milepost 278.
8 p.m. to 6 a.m., Sept. 29-Nov. 6, Monday through Thursday nights:
- US 101 will reduce to one lane approaching the work zone.
- Flaggers will alternate traffic one direction at a time.
- Reduced speed limit through the work zone.
Travelers may notice the work zone in a different location each night. During this time, crews will put the finishing touches on four new bridges built earlier this year. Work includes grinding rumble strips, installing guardrail and applying permanent striping.
Daytime work continues along the shoulder of the highway for sign installation and landscaping throughout the project area. People will see intermittent shoulder closures from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Crews are also working off the roadway at the following locations through late fall:
Sequim: New bridge is open
- Construction crews finished lane shifts to the new bridge over Johnson Creek July 31.
- The intersection of Whitefeather Way and US 101 is open.
- People walking or riding bicycles on US 101 between Blyn and Sequim will detour onto the Olympic Discovery Trail until landscaping is finished this fall.
- The speed limit is 30 mph.
- Travelers may notice crews working to restore the stream channel beneath the new bridge.
Blyn: New bridge is open
- Construction crews finished bridge work in June.
- The speed limit is 35 mph.
- People walking or riding bicycles on US 101 from Gardiner to Blyn will detour onto the Olympic Discovery Trail until landscaping is finished this fall. US 101 will remain open to cyclists and pedestrians going from Blyn to Gardiner.
- Travelers may notice crews working to restore the stream channel beneath the new bridge.
Gardiner: New bridge is open
- Construction crews finished the new bridge over Contractors Creek in late March.
- The speed limit is 35 mph.
- Work will continue off the roadway to complete fish barrier removal and to restore the stream to its natural state.
This project has replaced six blocking culverts beneath US 101 between milepost 267 and 278.
Fish barrier removal project locations
Current construction
- Milepost 267.1 – Johnson Creek - Construction now through Oct. 2025.
- Milepost 271.8 – Unnamed Tributary to Sequim Bay 2 - Construction now through Oct. 2025.
- Milepost 277.9 – Contractors Creek - Construction now through Sept. 2025.
Completed construction
- Eagle Creek was corrected August 2023 with a concrete box culvert.
- Chicken Coop Creek was corrected November 2024. Crews will finish seeding and installing plants in spring 2025.
- Unnamed Tributary to Sequim Bay (Discovery Creek) was corrected in November 2024. Crews will finish seeding and installing plants in spring 2025.
Correcting fish passage barriers under US 101
The work helps protect and restore fish runs negatively affected by outdated culverts under state highways.
A federal court injunction required the state to significantly increase the state’s efforts in removing state-owned culverts that block habitat for fish.
Building bridges or fish passable structures increase the likelihood of migration. Fish will be able to pass through creeks more easily. The water will be slower. Creeks are rebuilt to simulate a more natural environment.
