With over 300,000 visits each year, Hurricane Ridge is one of Olympic National Parkâs most popular destinations. This year has been big year at the Ridge, with multiple improvements completed, even in the wake of last winterâs storm damage and near-record snowpack.
Over 50 people gathered under a light drizzle last Friday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the successful and accident-free completion of the reconstruction and repair of Hurricane Ridge Road.
Speakers at the brief ceremony included Division Engineer Clara Conner of the Federal Lands Highway Program, Project Manager George Peabody from Lakeside Industriesâ Port Angeles Division, Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce Director Russ Veenema and Olympic National Park Superintendent Karen Gustin.
Following the ribbon cutting, attendees enjoyed a scenic drive along the new road to the HurricaneRidgeVisitorCenter where refreshments were served. Entrance fees at Hurricane Ridge were waived for the day to encourage people to experience the new roadway.
The $12 million project was completed thanks to a partnership between the Federal Lands Highway Program of the Federal Highway Administration, local contractor Lakeside Industries and the National Park Service. Since the project began in late April, the Hurricane Ridge Road has been completely resurfaced, along with the Hurricane Ridge parking lot and numerous pullouts along the road. Repairs to three sections of road damaged during the December 2007 storm were also completed and new conduits to carry utility lines to Hurricane Ridge were installed.
In another major improvement project at Hurricane Ridge, over 21 tons of old tires were removed from the meadows this past September. The tires were placed at the lower end of the ski area Poma lift in the early 1980s to help contour the slope for skiers trying to get onto the lift. The tires are no longer needed for this purpose and were earmarked for removal last year. More, including photos of the tire airlift.
Ruby: 1.8.7, Rails: 1.1.6