PORT ANGELES — A milelong section of the Olympic Discovery Trail is closed through Friday to allow crews to remove debris that blocked the route near Francis Street Park on April 5.
The trail is now closed between Hollywood Beach and Ennis Street to allow large construction equipment to safely move around the area, Port Angeles public works officials said in a Tuesday announcement.
Francis Street Park is also closed.
A contractor mobilized Monday and began repairs Tuesday, city project manager Jonathan Boehme said.
“Things are going well,” he said Wednesday.
“They made good progress yesterday filing in a scour hole with large rock.”
Crews on Wednesday continued to fill in the depressions caused by water runoff from firefighters’ efforts to save a burning house on Caroline Street on April 5.
Friday finish eyed
The plan is to remove debris from the trail today and complete the work by Friday afternoon, Boehme said.
The project could be extended depending on weather, progress and other conditions.
Meanwhile, users can bypass the closure by taking Ennis or Lincoln streets to Front Street and traversing back to the waterfront.
The trail is open from Ennis Street east and from Hollywood Beach west.
Repairs to the trail were stalled for seven weeks by the removal of wreckage from the house at 715 Caroline St.
Firefighters had to let the two-story, 116-year-old wooden home burn to the ground after a section of the bluff collapsed.
The wreckage had to be removed by the homeowner before crews could begin to work along the trail, city officials said.
The trail is central to the North Olympic Discovery Marathon, which is scheduled for June 5.
The marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K routes each use the now-closed section of the trail.
“We will have it open before the marathon for sure,” Boehme said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
