PORT ANGELES — Work on the state Department of Transportation’s $17 million graving yard on Marine Drive won’t resume for at least another week.
State officials won’t estimate the cost of the work stoppage or how the delay will impact completion of the $204 million Hood Canal Bridge replacement and retrofit project.
But preliminary cost estimates could be available today.
Work was halted Aug. 26 after Native American remains were found at the 22.4-acre construction site where anchors and pontoons will be built to replace the eastern half of the floating bridge.
Representatives of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and Transportation met for about six hours Wednesday afternoon, trying to reach an agreement that will get work started.
Another meeting is scheduled for Sept. 11 at the tribal center, west of Port Angeles.
The tribe’s main concern is preventing further disturbance of Native American remains that might be at the site.
Transportation Communications Director Linda Mullen said the department does not want to leave Port Angeles, but must look at all possibilities — including relocating.
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The rest of the story appears in Thursday’s Peninsula Daily News.
