OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK —Hurricane Ridge Road reopened at about 1 p.m. today, after having been shut down since Jan. 18 by a washout a half-mile north of the Heart O’ the Hills campground.
Weather permitting, the 17-mile road, which will be closed at dusk, will open again at 9 a.m. Saturday, said Barb Maynes, Olympic National Park spokeswoman.
Hurricane Ridge, a popular snowplay area, has 66 inches of snow now, Maynes said, and entrance fees — $15 per car for up to seven consecutive days or $30 park pass good for one year — are waived this weekend.
Bruch & Bruch Construction Inc., of Port Angeles finished the repair of the 100-foot slipout in five weeks rather than the anticipated six weeks, at a cost of $2.17 million.
Before building the new section of road, crews had to remove about 2,000 truckloads of muddy soil that was part of the original 1958 road bed.
After digging a 65-foot-deep hole, crews replaced a small culvert with a larger culvert and filled the pit with more than 1,300 truckloads of rock and gravel for a stronger foundation.
Crews paved and striped the road Thursday.
The intermediate and bunny rope tows at Hurricane Ridge are expected to be open Saturday morning. Mountain Manager Craig Hofer said the Poma lift could open in March.
Ranger-led snowshoe walks also resume this weekend. The treks begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. A $5 donation is requested.
Space is limited for the 90-minute walks, so participants should register at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center information desk, which will be staffed, 30 minutes beforehand.
The snack bar and ski rental shop will be closed until March 6.
For information, visit www.hurricaneridge.com.
For weather updates, check the park’s 24-hour road hotline at 360-565-3131 or www.tiny.cc/NH07e.
