The Washington State Department of Transportation will start on a $500,000 project to stabilize nearly 0.7 miles of highway west of the state Route 109 spur, closing to all traffic for up to two weeks.

The project is planned to start in early 2023. WSDOT will announce the closure when it is scheduled. A signed detour will be available via US Route 101, Ocean Beach Road and Powell Road.

The total closure will allow workers to remove trees of concern, debris and rocks from above the highway. State Route 109 west of Hoquiam has a history of debris slides. Each slide generally is triggered by powerful Pacific Northwest rainstorms.

Debris can close the highway for days at a time. During a controlled environment, crews will close the roadway to all traffic. In order to help stabilize the hillside, crews will leave the lower portion of tree trunks or root wads, to help stabilize the soil. Construction is scheduled to end in spring.