Work on a bypass on Highway 104 west of the Hood Canal Bridge will slow traffic this week, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Contractor crews for the state started setting girders in place that will be used as a temporary bypass as work continues on fish-habitat improvements next to the busy roadway.

Nighttime slowdowns on Highway 104 were forecast to continue from 11 p.m. Wednesday, June 28 to 6 a.m. Thursday, June 29. Flaggers at the work site will stop traffic on the highway as trucks exit and enter the roadway with the girders on Highway 104 at Shine Creek. Delays of up to 20 minutes are expected.

The bypass is expected to be finished and open to traffic on July 14.

The overall project will see two barriers to fish passage removed; the first at Highway 104 at Shine Creek, and the other on Highway 19 at Swansonville Creek.

The $8 million project includes the construction of 18-foot hydraulic three-sided culverts at both locations.

Construction started May 30.

On Highway 104 at Shine Creek, the temporary bypass will divert traffic around the construction site while the new culvert is installed.

State officials noted that when the temporary bypass is finished, the speed limit will be dropped from 60 mph to 45 mph.

According to the agency, the contractor working on the Swansonville Creek culvert can take one continuous 10-day closure to complete the installation of the new culvert. 

That 10-day full roadway closure will occur sometime between Sept. 5 and Sept. 30. Travelers will follow a detour route around the work zone during the closure.