FORKS — Two bridges spanning the Sol Duc River 20 miles apart in Clallam County will be repainted, causing some disruption for traffic on U.S. Highway 101.
The makeovers on the bridges, located near mileposts 194 and 212, will start Tuesday and are expected to be completed by the fall, the state Department of Transportation said.
During the summer-long project, crews will remove the existing paint, repair or replace any damaged steel, apply new primer and paint the trusses in evergreen.
Crews will erect a containment system on both bridges to protect the environment from debris and paint.
For the duration of the project, crews will reduce U.S. Highway 101 to one alternating lane of traffic around the clock across both bridges.
Temporary traffic signals will provide traffic control.
Travelers are also advised to expect reduced speed limits of 25 mph at both sites.
“We’ll trade flaking paint and rust for a fresh, protective coat,” said Chris Bruning, project engineer. “This work will help preserve and protect the bridges against corrosion for 25 years.”
