PORT ANGELES — Major transportation changes are coming to the Port Angeles area over the next few years, with new roundabouts planned on Highway 101 and large-scale fish passage projects set to reshape parts of the city.
Olympic Regional Administrator Steve Roark told Clallam County Commissioners this week that design work is moving forward on a long-anticipated Highway 101 repaving project between Port Angeles and Sequim. The project will include two new roundabouts — one at Mill Road and another at Taylor Cutoff in Carlsborg.
“This paving project is moving into the design phase. Our design team will continue engaging with the community as the details are refined. I expect we’ll advertise for bids around January 2027, so in summer of 2027 we should be out there doing quite a bit of work,” said Roark.
WSDOT is preparing for two of the largest fish barrier corrections in the region, both in Port Angeles. Peabody and White Creeks, which include sections that run under stretches of downtown and a local hotel — are still on the books. Roark said workshops are now underway to narrow down alternatives, with construction likely several years away.
“Both of these projects are funded through our fish barrier program, so I expect them to move forward. But it will still be a few years before we’re ready for construction—my estimate is around 2029, plus or minus at the earliest.”
Commissioners also questioned Roark about the Hood Canal Bridge, where aging components have required repeated maintenance. Roark said a $50 million federal grant will help replace the west half superstructure, though the project is still several years away. In the meantime, WSDOT continues to address center lock repairs and manage an increase in marine openings, which remains governed by federal requirements.