Maintenance crews clear dozens of landslides in Clallam County following storm

By Tina Werner and Mark Krulish

The Nov. 15 storm that hit western Washington had a significant effect on the Olympic Peninsula, closing US 101 and State Routes 112, 113 and 110 in multiple locations. Reopening these routes was no small task for our hardworking maintenance crews. While the repair work on US 101 and SR 112 is ongoing, crews made great progress in really challenging conditions to re-establish critical lifeline routes to Clallam County communities.

Wet conditions got a whole lot wetter

Leading up to the Nov. 15 storm, a month's worth of rain had already fallen in the Olympic Peninsula in less than two weeks. The soil was saturated, and the rivers were high.

Then the storm brought another round of heavy rain, coupled with high tides and wind, which hit the peninsula with a vengeance.

Clallam County PUD placed a temporary water line over the slide at milepost 15.8 near Clallam Bay. The site continues to move and our team is designing a long-term fix, purchasing right-of-way and working with partners on a path forward.

As the atmospheric river dropped more-than-generous precipitation across our state, Port Angeles maintenance lead Jim Hart said the sheer amount of water on the roadway was "unreal." Crews worked quickly to ensure roads weren't completely washed away as water came spilling down the hillside. They cleared slides and debris as much as they safely could, although some sections of road were blocked by flood waters and crews couldn't even reach them until after Tuesday evening.

The Forks and Neah Bay communities were cut off from the rest of the state and we knew we had to restore their access ASAP. We called in crews from other areas including Kitsap, Grays Harbor and Mason counties to clear downed trees, landslides, and blocked culverts.

Our first goal was to get US 101 reopened. Reopening this highway would restore travel across the peninsula and give us access to SR 113 and SR 112.

A look at the closure locations on the Olympic Peninsula at 5 p.m. on Nov. 15 following a major rain storm

US 101 at Lake Crescent

At the Lake Crescent site alone, truck operators removed 5,000 yards of debris using four excavators, two front-end loaders and 11 dump trucks. Thirty-two people and more than 915 combined hours later, we were able to get  US 101 between Forks and Port Angeles reopened.

Reopening US 101 at Lake Crescent was a combined effort by Olympic National Park,
Clallam County and our crews from across the region.

US 101 south of Forks

A landslide closed US 101 at milepost 185 near Forks after the storm. The slide affected approximately 50 feet of roadway and three smaller embankment failures filled a ditch with debris and trees, clogging a nearby culvert, which caused water to spill onto the roadway. Our crews were able to clear downed trees, debris and water, and install a jersey barrier in the center to reopen a path out of Forks. Crews restored one-way alternating travel near Kallman Road on Wednesday, Nov. 17 after two days of work. An emergency contract is being prepared for a long-term fix of the site. Smaller slides on SR 113 and SR 110 were cleared in the days that followed.

The situation at US 101 at milepost 185 south of Forks

US 101 at the Elwha River Bridge

In 2016, bridge crews discovered erosion on some of the piers on the US 101 Elwha River Bridge in Port Angeles. Since then, we have had an emergency plan in place that involves closing the bridge when water levels reach certain flows to prevent further erosion. This was the first time since 2016 we've had to implement this plan. The bridge remained closed until water levels dropped low enough for engineers to inspect the bridge piers. The 80-plus-year-old bridge is on track to be replaced in summer 2022.

The US 101 Elwha River Bridge was closed for two days due to high river water.

Structural engineers continued to monitor the Elwha bridge piers for scour for two full days before recommending its reopening on Nov. 17.

Bridge crews used an Under Bridge Inspection Truck to evaluate the piers and columns
of the US 101 Elwha River Bridge prior to reopening it.

SR 112 between mileposts 0 to 11 near Neah Bay also reopened on Wednesday, Nov. 17. Our maintenance crews cleared 14 sites within the 11-mile stretch. Flooding of the Hoko River prevented crews from accessing and evaluating damage west of milepost 12 until Tuesday evening. Crews removed debris from small slides and cleared drainage culverts to prevent flowing of further debris and damage to the roadway.

Thanks to the work of our crews, we are down to only two remaining closures.

SR 112  is closed at milepost 32 near Jim Creek and 15.8 near Clallam Bay leading to Neah Bay, which we discussed in greater detail in an earlier blog. Both sites will require emergency contracts to reopen, and our design engineers are developing long-term fixes. We expect to have a contract available for competitive bids in early 2022.

On Friday, Dec. 3, crews repairs and opened Eagle Crest Way, a temporary bypass route around the slide at Clallam Bay for local traffic. This allows Clallam Bay and Neah Bay residents a way to access other needs across the peninsula.

A huge challenge

This storm's aftermath was an incredible challenge for our crews. Veteran employees like Hart work hard to keep our roadways clear. They talk with homeowners near closures about the incident and request entry to begin repairs, work with local public utility districts to clear powerlines, remove downed trees, and keep our tribal and jurisdictional partners updated.

Our crews simply attribute the work as part of their job, and while that's true, there's no arguing that the work they put in in these emergency situations is extraordinary. They care about our transportation facilities and the people who rely on them. Not only do they work in this area, they also live here, drive these roads and interact with others who live there, and they take great pride in keeping the roadways safe for everyone. Please remember to watch out for workers, and if you see them, slow down in work zones. If you get a chance, thank them for working diligently all year long.

Share :