Hurricane ridge to be closed to bicycles during two year repair effort

[lauraelmore1033]

Had anyone heard of this?
From the BIKESclub website:
Tell Olympic National Park to remove the proposed ban on bicyclists

Action Alert from the Bicycle Alliance of Washington
Hurricane Ridge Road inside Olympic National Park is a popular summer destination for bicyclists who like the challenge of a 17-mile road rising from virtually sea level to 5420-feet. Park managers have been planning to repave the road for several years and Congress has provided $12.7 Million to repave and repair 12 miles. The road recently sustained storm damage.
Citing “safety,” the park is planning to ban bicyclists for the entire two year duration of the road repairs. The road will remain open to all other vehicle traffic, including motorcycles.
We believe that this is an unnecessary exclusion of bicyclists on what is a federally funded road open to all other forms of traffic. Write to your members of Congress and interim park superintendent Sue McGill and let them know that the proposed ban is totally unacceptable. Request that McGill meet directly with the Bicycle Alliance and other bicycle groups to reach an improved solution.

Enter your zip code to obtain the name of your member of Congress: http://www.house.gov/htbin/zipfind

Washington’s two senators can be reached by email or by calling a local office:

Senator Patty Murray: http://murray.senate.gov/contact/

Senator Maria Cantwell: http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/office_locations.cfm

Olympic National Park
Sue McGill, Superintendent
Olympic National Park
600 E. Park Avenue
Port Angeles, WA 98362
sue_mcgill@nps.gov

Key points to raise:

Hurricane Ridge Road is a popular destination for bicyclists

Bicyclists who ride this road tend to be very experienced, fit riders

The road will remain open to all other vehicle traffic

State, county and city governments in Washington manage to accommodate bicyclists during reconstruction projects without any problems

No construction work will take place at weekends, but the ban is to remain in place then too

Olympic National Park did not contact a single bicycle group in its out-reach efforts, even though bicyclists are the most affected users

Contractors routinely deal with bicyclists on other road projects – this project is no more a safety issue than other road works.

Background on the issue is available at: http://peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080216/NEWS/802160303&template=printart

Information on recent storm damage to Hurricane Ridge Road:
http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/current-closures.htm

[MM_QFC!]

Yes, Cascade bike club in Seattle has been publicizing it and exhorting riders to sound off, so I did...thanks for posting it.
This is a great training ride and one that I usually try to fit in once a season...hopefully, the state 'powers-that-be' will listen to reason...2 years is a loooooong time!

[mimitabby]

i got email today:

Dear Ms. :

Thank you for your comments related to the closure of Hurricane Ridge
road to bicycles during the upcoming construction projects. While we
recognize this will be a short term inconvenience for those that ride
this spectacular road, once completed it will provide a better biking
experience. The paved shoulders will be widened slightly and the road
surface will be improved.

The project first underwent public scoping for 30 days on September 24,
2003. Scoping is undertaken to allow the public to submit issues and
factors that should be considered in the formulation of an environmental
assessment. As part of the scoping process we sent out press releases to
200 media outlets, interested groups, public officials, and agencies. In
addition we sent 70 letters to individuals and close to 300 letters to
those who live near or adjacent to the project area. In response to the
scoping we received 11 comments. One commenter addressed the concern
that asphalt paving was a better surface than chip seal for bicycling
and in fact asphalt paving is what the final surface will be.

An environmental assessment was released for public review on October 4,
2004 for 30 days. It included the provision for closing the road to bike
use during the construction period. Again, press releases and letters
were sent out in the numbers noted above to receive public input for the
document and the proposals for work schedules, visitor impacts, and
resource impacts among other issues. We received three comments in
response to the environmental assessment. There were two comments
related to bike use: one the chip seal versus asphalt paving comment as
noted above and a second stating it would be nice to have uphill and
downhill bike lanes added.

On March 3, 2006 a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was released
to the public also including the closure as an impact to visitor
experience. No comments were received. As a result, the contract for
repaving and rehabilitation of Hurricane Ridge Road was issued for bids
by the Federal Highway Administration. The closure to bicycles as
spelled out in the environmental assessment along with other
requirements, were factored into the bid process and a contract has
since been awarded.

Safety is a primary concern in any decision or project we undertake. We
understand that the closure to biking during the construction period
will inconvenience those who would like to continue to ride, however at
this time there is no plan to revisit the decision to close the road
during construction. Once complete, we’ll be happy to see riders on the
road again.

Sincerely,

Susan K. McGill

[MM_QFC!]

i got email today:

Dear Ms. :

Thank you for your comments related to the closure of Hurricane Ridge
road to bicycles during the upcoming construction projects. While we
recognize this will be a short term inconvenience for those that ride
this spectacular road, once completed it will provide a better biking
experience. The paved shoulders will be widened slightly and the road
surface will be improved.

The project first underwent public scoping for 30 days on September 24,
2003. Scoping is undertaken to allow the public to submit issues and
factors that should be considered in the formulation of an environmental
assessment. As part of the scoping process we sent out press releases to
200 media outlets, interested groups, public officials, and agencies. In
addition we sent 70 letters to individuals and close to 300 letters to
those who live near or adjacent to the project area. In response to the
scoping we received 11 comments. One commenter addressed the concern
that asphalt paving was a better surface than chip seal for bicycling
and in fact asphalt paving is what the final surface will be.

An environmental assessment was released for public review on October 4,
2004 for 30 days. It included the provision for closing the road to bike
use during the construction period. Again, press releases and letters
were sent out in the numbers noted above to receive public input for the
document and the proposals for work schedules, visitor impacts, and
resource impacts among other issues. We received three comments in
response to the environmental assessment. There were two comments
related to bike use: one the chip seal versus asphalt paving comment as
noted above and a second stating it would be nice to have uphill and
downhill bike lanes added.

On March 3, 2006 a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was released
to the public also including the closure as an impact to visitor
experience. No comments were received. As a result, the contract for
repaving and rehabilitation of Hurricane Ridge Road was issued for bids
by the Federal Highway Administration. The closure to bicycles as
spelled out in the environmental assessment along with other
requirements, were factored into the bid process and a contract has
since been awarded.

Safety is a primary concern in any decision or project we undertake. We
understand that the closure to biking during the construction period
will inconvenience those who would like to continue to ride, however at
this time there is no plan to revisit the decision to close the road
during construction. Once complete, we’ll be happy to see riders on the
road again.

Sincerely,

Susan K. McGill

sigh...:( so the gate to the park is slammed right in our face...that's SUCH a beautiful ride...and 2 years is NOT a "short term inconvenience" IMHO!:mad:

[mimitabby]

here's an update from the OLYMPIC National Parks:
not great, but better.

Olympic National Park News Release

April 16, 2008
For Immediate Release
Barb Maynes 360-565-3005


Major Reconstruction Project Set to Begin on Hurricane Ridge Road

Work is set to begin next Monday, April 21 on a seven-month project to
restore and rehabilitate the popular Hurricane Ridge Road in Olympic
National Park, announced the park’s Acting Superintendent Sue McGill today.

“Over 350,000 people visit Hurricane Ridge each year and while we recognize
the inconvenience that road construction can pose, we are eager to get this
project underway and to provide a safer, more enjoyable roadway for
visitors.” said McGill. “And we’re very pleased to announce that the
construction will occur during only one summer season, rather than two as
originally planned.”

The $12 million road rehabilitation project is a partnership between the
National Park Service, the Federal Highway Administration and local
contractor Lakeside Industries. When complete, the Hurricane Ridge Road
will be completely resurfaced, along with the Hurricane Ridge parking lot
and numerous pullouts along the road.

Also scheduled for completion during the construction period are repairs to
three sections of road that were severely damaged during the December 2007
storm and installation of new conduits to carry utility lines to Hurricane
Ridge.

Motorists should expect delays of up to 20 minutes during the summer
months, with delays of up to 30 minutes in the spring and fall. Flaggers
and pilot cars will guide motorists through the active construction areas
and temporary traffic signs and signals will be installed for weekend and
evening travel.

“Safety concerns dictate that bicycles will not be permitted during the
months of active construction, from May 5 through mid-October,” said
McGill. “The combination of heavy construction equipment, unpaved roadway
and the need to employ pilot cars poses too many risks to allow bicycles
this summer.”

As work progresses throughout the spring and summer, road access
restrictions may change. Updates will be provided each week, or more
frequently if needed.

Visitor safety during road construction is of utmost importance. Heavy
machinery with limited visibility, uneven and unpaved road surfaces (up to
four miles at a time), one-lane sections of road and lack of guardrails
will all pose risks during the upcoming construction season. These,
combined with the road’s typical mountain characteristics (steep grade,
tight curves, limited sight distance, frequent fog), have led to the
decision to restrict bicyclists from using the road during the construction
project.

Construction work will begin on April 21 as the contractor begins
mobilizing for the project, but construction delays and restrictions will
not begin until early May. Weekend work is not scheduled at this time, but
may be added at any time if needed.

A summary of construction activity and visitor advisories follows.

April 21 – May 4:
Weather permitting, the road will be open Fridays through Sundays through
May 4. The road will be closed Monday through Thursday. Bicycles will be
permitted whenever the road is open.

During this time, the contractor will move equipment to the site and begin
trenching alongside the road for the new conduits and associated utility
vaults. Other preparatory and staging work will be accomplished.

May 5 – May 25:
Beginning May 5 if weather allows, the road will be open daily, 24 hours a
day.

Also effective Monday, May 5 and continuing through mid-October, bicycles
will be prohibited from using all sections of the road above the Heart O’
the Hills campground.

Motorists should expect up to four miles of unpaved roadway during this
time. On weekdays, delays of up to 30 minutes each way should be expected.
Weekend work is not scheduled at this time, but may be added at any time if
needed.

Excavation beneath the road bed will begin during this time, allowing for
installation of new sub-grade culverts and improved drainage under the
road.

May 26 – September 1:
The road is scheduled to be open daily, 24 hours a day.

Motorists should expect up to four miles of unpaved roadway. Estimated
delays will be reduced to no more than 20 minutes each way on weekdays.
Construction is not currently scheduled for the weekends during this
period, but may be added at any time if needed. Some parking pullouts
along the road may be inaccessible due to construction or equipment
staging.

Excavation along the road bed will continue, along with rehabilitation of
existing road surface.

September 2 – September 14:
The road is scheduled to be open daily, 24 hours per day.

Motorists should expect up to four miles of unpaved, gravel roadway and on
weekdays and estimated delays of up to 30 minutes each way.

September 15 – October 15:
To accommodate paving, the road will likely be closed Mondays through
Thursdays from September 15 through October 15. The road will remain open
Fridays through Sundays.

October 15 – November 15:
Most active construction will be completed, although road striping and sign
placement will continue throughout this final month of work. Weather and
road conditions permitting, the road will be open daily and will reopen to
bicycle use on October 16.

The Hurricane Ridge Road was built in the late 1950s and was last
resurfaced in 1979. The upcoming reconstruction project was evaluated in a
September 2004 environmental assessment which analyzed the effects of the
project. Public input was invited and included in the environmental
assessment process.

Weekly construction updates will be released throughout the spring, summer
and fall as work progresses.

For information on visiting Olympic National Park, including additional
options for bicycling on park roads, visitors should check the park’s
website at http://www.nps.gov/olym/ or call the Olympic National Park Road
and Weather Hotline at 360-565-3131.

[Susan126]

Thanks for posting the update Mimi! One summer is better than two! And perhaps the last part of October will be glorious! A beautiful warm autumn day with colorful foliage. Perhaps a fall bike ride?! :D

[jobob]

From a friend's blog:

http://mile43.blogspot.com/2008/10/hurricane-ridge-ride.html