Traffic on U.S. Highway 101 at Morse Creek east of Port Angeles travels on Wednesday next to recently-planted, dought-resistant shrubs in the traffic median. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

Traffic on U.S. Highway 101 at Morse Creek east of Port Angeles travels on Wednesday next to recently-planted, dought-resistant shrubs in the traffic median. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

Median work completed at Morse Creek

PORT ANGELES — Shrubs were planted in the new center median along U.S. Highway 101 at Morse Creek this week.

State Department of Transportation’s contracting partner, Active Construction Inc., planted drought-resistant shrubs in the new center median Monday and Tuesday.

A raised, landscaped median simulates a boulevard-style approach to slowing traffic along the corridor.

Crews also made intersection improvements to Highway 101 and North Masters Road to reinforce existing right in/right out travel.

No additional lane closures are required.

Construction crews working for DOT finished building a raised median through much of the curve east of Port Angeles in late July.

The lanes were narrowed from 12 feet to 11 feet and shoulders were shaved from 8 feet to 5 feet.

The speed limit was permanently reduced by 5 mph to 40 mph for the length of the curve.

A mile-long, landscaped median with a 6-inch curb was built from the top of the bend at East Kolonels Way near the Walmart exit east to the Deer Park exit off Highway 101.

It breaks at the bottom of the S-curve’s hill at Morse Creek where Cottonwood Lane exits Highway 101 to the south and Strait View Drive exits to the north before continuing to Deer Park Loop.

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