Highway preservation work could cause long delays on US 101 in Jefferson County

Daytime paving work, reduced speed limits Aug. 1-5

DISCOVERY BAY – US 101 travelers heading through Jefferson County will want to plan extra time during the week of Aug. 1. Crews are set to repair and preserve areas of the highway between Old Gardiner Road along Discovery Bay and Gardiner Cemetery Road.

What travelers can expect

From 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Aug. 1-5, travelers can expect delays of at least 15 minutes. Crews will work along a 4.6-mile section of US 101 between mileposts 277 and 281.6.

A pilot car and flaggers will lead travelers through the work zone. Travelers can also expect to see the speed limit reduced to 35 mph around the clock throughout the week. While driving through the work zone, please slow down and avoid distractions to help keep everyone safe.

Some delays may be inevitable, but WSDOT also is asking travelers to help keep traffic flowing as smoothly as possible:

  • If possible, consider traveling early in the morning or late in the day
  • Reschedule or combine discretionary travel
  • Allow plenty of extra time

The work will include chip sealing of existing pavement. Chip sealing has several benefits: it is cost-effective, requires relatively minimal closures and will extend the useful life of the roadway for years to come.

This work requires dry weather and could be rescheduled due to rain.

Real-time traffic information is available on the WSDOT statewide travel map, the WSDOT app and WSDOT regional Twitter account.

Slow down – lives are on the line. 

In 2023, speeding continued to be a top reason for work zone crashes.

Even one life lost is too many.

Fatal work zone crashes doubled in 2023 - Washington had 10 fatal work zone crashes on state roads.

It's in EVERYONE’S best interest.

95% of people hurt in work zones are drivers, their passengers or passing pedestrians, not just our road crews.