Travelers on state Route 6 and state Route 508 through Lewis County will need to continue to plan ahead to avoid delays amid road work, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
Beginning Thursday, Aug. 1, WSDOT’s contractor, Granite Construction Company, continued ongoing work to smooth and repair the highways using a bituminous surface treatment, or chip seal.
On state Route 6, the work led to long delays on the highway and intersection streets between Claquaot and Chehalis on Thursday.
Crews are working on a 23-mile stretch of state Route 6 between Interstate 5, near milepost 51.4, and Pe Ell, near milepost 28.3.
One state Route 508, crews are working on a 32-mile section of roadway between Interstate 5 and Morton.
Through Friday, Aug. 9, travelers along both directions of state Route 6 will alternate intermittently through a single lane from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
From Monday, Aug. 12, to Monday, Aug. 26, travelers along both directions of state Route 508 will alternate intermittently through a single lane from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
During chip sealing, travelers will follow flaggers and be guided by a pilot car through the area. Delays of up to 20 minutes should be expected, according to WSDOT.
“A reminder to travelers to please be patient when traveling in work zones,” WSDOT stated in a news release. “Traveling at the posted speed limit ensures the safety of highway users and road crews and helps to prevent flying rock from the chip seal process. Once chip seal work is complete, crews will add lane markings including restriping and applying fog sealing along the travel lanes.”
The project is scheduled to be complete by this fall.
Because the work requires warm, dry weather, it may be rescheduled at any time.
