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.