OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — The last three miles of Obstruction Point Road, a six-mile gravel road near Hurricane Ridge, will be reopened Saturday.
Road crews are nearly finished removing snow from the road, working from Waterhole at Milepost 3.2 to the road’s terminus at the Obstruction Point trailhead, said Dave Reynolds, park spokesman.
Road shoulders remain soft, he warned.
Snowdrifts of up to 6 feet in height delayed the road’s scheduled July 1 opening.
The first three miles of road were reopened for the summer season July 15.
As a reminder, access is now closed to both the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams on the Elwha River in preparation for the demolition of the dams beginning Sept. 17.
Lower Dam Road, which leads from state Highway 112 to the Elwha Dam, has been closed since July 5.
Site preparation
Dam removal contractor Barnard Construction Inc. and subcontractors continue preparing the site for the start of dam removal.
Preparations there include minor road repairs, demolition of outbuildings and asbestos abatement.
Olympic Hot Springs Road was gated at a point just beyond Altair campground last Monday so that Barnard can prepare the Glines Canyon Dam area for dam removal.
The road will be closed for three years, while the two dams on the Elwha River are removed as part of a $327 million Elwha River Restoration Project intended to restore the river to a free-flowing state and create salmon habitat.
There is no access to the Olympic Hot Springs from the Elwha Valley.
Access to other areas in the Elwha Valley, including Madison Falls, Elwha and Altair campgrounds and the Elwha Ranger Station, remains open.
For current road information in the park, phone 360-565-3131 or visit http://tinyurl.com/3hbuum8.
