Eleven months after the rain, wind and floods of last autumn, crews continue to make repairs to park roads and other facilities. This week, a contractor will begin installing a permanent bridge over West Twin Creek on the Hoh Road, while another contractor has been selected to remove stockpiled timber and storm debris elsewhere in the park. The Hoh Road was severely damaged by rain and floodwaters last November, with the most significant damage at West Twin Creek, where a 65-foot-long by 25-foot-deep section of road, along with two culverts, completely washed away. A temporary one-lane bridge was placed across the creek last winter, replacing the culverts and restoring fish access. “Not only will this bridge provide visitors with continued access into the Hoh Rain Forest, it replaces two aged culverts that blocked fish passage to the upper creek,” said superintendent Bill Laitner. “I extend my thanks and appreciation to park staff and our partners for their creativity and hard work in restoring access to both humans and fish.” Before beginning work on the bridge, workers will remove the damaged culverts that were washed downstream. After the bridge is installed, the temporary bridge will be removed and the area rehabilitated. The road is scheduled to remain open throughout the construction period, although several short closures may be required during placement of the bridge girders. The project is scheduled to be completed by early to mid-January. Meanwhile, a contractor will begin work later this month to remove timber and storm debris from the Elwha and Sol Duc areas. Visitors are urged to use caution as large trucks will be used to haul the timber and debris out of the park.
