U.S. Route 101 in Washington

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This article is about the section of U.S. Route 101 in Washington. For the entire route, see U.S. Route 101.
U.S. Route 101 marker
U.S. Route 101
Map
Map of western Washington with US 101 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by WSDOT
Length365.55 mi[1] (588.30 km)
Existed1926–present
Tourist
routes
  • Lewis and Clark Trail
  • Pacific Coast Scenic Byway
Major junctions
South end US 101 at Oregon state line
Major intersections
North end I-5 in Tumwater
Location
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountiesPacific, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Clallam, Mason, Thurston
Highway system
← SR 100→ SR 102

U.S. Route 101 (US 101) is a

state parks
, and other scenic and recreational areas.

The highway enters from Oregon on the Astoria–Megler Bridge over the mouth of the Columbia River near Astoria, Oregon. From there, it runs for 366 miles (589 km) north through Ilwaco, Raymond, Aberdeen, Hoquiam, and Forks before turning east towards Port Angeles. US 101 turns south near Discovery Bay and continues along the Hood Canal through Shelton towards Olympia, where it becomes a freeway and terminates at Interstate 5 (I-5) in Tumwater.

Route description

US 101 is the westernmost route of the

Lewis and Clark Trail, which travels along the Columbia and Snake rivers.[4][6]

Most of the highway is listed as part of the National Highway System and the state's Highways of Statewide Significance program, which recognizes its connection to major communities.[7][8] A section of US 101 between State Route 4 (SR 401) and Aberdeen is also designated by the U.S. Department of Defense as part of the Strategic Highway Network under the National Highway System.[7][9] The highway is maintained by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), who conduct an annual survey of traffic volume expressed in terms of annual average daily traffic. Average traffic volumes on the highway in 2016 ranged from a minimum of 950 vehicles near Kalaloch to a maximum of 100,000 vehicles in Olympia.[10]

Astoria to Aberdeen

The Astoria–Megler Bridge carries US 101 over the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington

US 101 enters Washington on the

alternate route, which bypasses the coastal section of the highway.[3][13] US 101 then dives southwesterly along the Wallacut River into Ilwaco, where it runs through town as Spruce Street and turns north onto 1st Avenue at an intersection with SR 100, which provides access to Cape Disappointment State Park.[3][14]

The highway leaves Ilwaco and swerves northwest to enter Seaview at the south end of the Long Beach Peninsula. US 101 then turns east onto 40th Street at an intersection with SR 103, which continues to Long Beach and Leadbetter Point State Park.[3] After intersecting the northern terminus of its alternate route, the highway turns north to cross the Wallacut River again and pass through hills on the south end of Willapa Bay. US 101 travels through part of the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and continues along the east side of the bay, making several turns while on the coastline. The highway then crosses the Naselle River and turns east to reach Johnston's Landing, a junction near Naselle with SR 4, which follows the Columbia River to Longview and Kelso.[3][14]

From Johnston's Landing, US 101 turns north and follows the South Nemah River before resuming its route along the east side of Willapa Bay. After crossing the Palix and Bone rivers, the highway turns northeast to reach the head of the bay and southeast to follow the Willapa River upstream to South Bend. US 101 travels through the city and heads northeast along the river towards Raymond, where it becomes a four-lane divided highway.[13] The highway crosses over the South Fork Willapa River and intersects SR 6 at a roundabout before turning north to travel through downtown Raymond. US 101 then crosses the main branch of the Willapa River and intersects the south end of SR 105 in northern Raymond.[14]

The highway continues north into the Willapa Hills, traveling through forestland with pockets of farmland. After crossing into Grays Harbor County, US 101 intersects SR 107, which provides connections to Montesano and points east.[3] The highway turns northwest and descends from Cosi Hill and Rock Crusher Hill overlooking the Chehalis River delta before it reaches Cosmopolis.[15] US 101 then enters Aberdeen and turns west onto Curtis Street before intersecting SR 105 and its spur route on the south side of the Chehalis River.[14] SR 105 forms a full loop around US 101 between Raymond and Aberdeen along the Pacific Coast and Grays Harbor, serving the city of Westport in the process.[3]

Aberdeen to Port Angeles

US 101 at US 12 in downtown Aberdeen

US 101 crosses the Chehalis River into downtown Aberdeen, where it intersects State Street in a partial interchange and is split for two blocks between South G Street for northbound traffic and South H Street for southbound traffic. The highway intersects the western end of

Detroit, Michigan,[16] and turns west onto another pair of one-way streets: East Wishkah Street for westbound traffic and East Heron Street for eastbound traffic.[17] US 101 continues through Aberdeen and its residential neighborhoods, turning northwest onto Alder and Park streets and west onto Sumner and Simpson avenues before it enters Hoquiam.[14][18]

Approaching downtown Hoquiam, the highway splits into another pair of one-way streets divided by the

SR 109 Spur. The highway continues north along the West Fork Hoquiam River into the foothills of the Olympic Mountains.[14]

US 101 leaves the foothills by turning west and travels across the Axford Prairie near

Quinault Rainforest.[4][20] It then turns west, following the Salmon River into Jefferson County before briefly re-entering Grays Harbor County to the south.[3] US 101 turns north into Jefferson County before crossing the Queets River and beginning a 15-mile (24 km) stretch on the Pacific Coast.[14][21]

The highway leaves the Quinault Indian Reservation and enters Olympic National Park, where it serves several beaches around Kalaloch and designated campsites facing the Pacific Ocean.[20] US 101 turns northeast at Ruby Beach and follows the Hoh River inland as it leaves the national park.[21] The highway turns north to cross the Hoh River and traverses a short pair of hairpin turns before passing the main entrance road to the Hoh Rainforest, one of the largest old-growth temperate rainforests in the Western Hemisphere.[4][22] US 101 continues northwest and descends into the Forks Prairie by following the Bogachiel River to the city of Forks in Clallam County, where it turns northeast to travel through downtown.[23] After leaving Forks, the highway intersects SR 110, a scenic route along the Sol Duc River that provides access to La Push and the Quileute Indian Reservation.[3][14]

US 101 continues northeast through the Sol Duc Valley, turning east after passing

Makah Indian Reservation at the northwest corner of the contiguous United States,[26] and turns east to enter Port Angeles.[3][14]

Port Angeles to Olympia

The highway travels east through the industrial outskirts of Port Angeles, where it passes

ferry terminal serving the MV Coho, which connects to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.[27] US 101 turns east and leaves downtown Port Angeles on Front and First streets, which merge into a four-lane road near the city's golf course. The highway then continues through a suburban commercial district and traverses a series of turns to cross a valley formed by Morse Creek.[14][28]

US 101 travels east onto a divided highway along a plain that faces the

Okanogan Highlands.[3] US 101 then follows Snow Creek south to an interchange with SR 104, which crosses the Hood Canal Bridge to the Kitsap Peninsula, and passes a series of lakes in the eastern foothills of the Olympic Mountains.[14][27]

The highway continues south through

Skokomish Indian Reservation, where it intersects SR 106 at a bend in Hood Canal.[14]

From

Squaxin Island Indian Reservation, where it has an interchange with SR 108.[31] The highway follows Oyster Bay and Scheider Creek southeast to the Eld Inlet in Thurston County, where it turns south and approaches a partial interchange with SR 8, which continues west toward Aberdeen.[3][32] US 101 then becomes a freeway with full grade separation for the remainder of its route, continuing southeast into Olympia.[14][31]

The freeway crosses Mud Bay and intersects an access road for the Evergreen State College campus on the western outskirts of Olympia. US 101 then traverses suburban neighborhoods, where it passes the Capital Mall and South Puget Sound Community College, and expands to six lanes. The highway turns southeast on the shore of Capitol Lake and enters Tumwater, where US 101 terminates at an interchange with I-5 near the Washington State Capitol campus.[14]

History

US 101 was established as part of the initial

State Road 12, both part of the first state system established in the 20th century. They were numbered in 1923 and incorporated into US 101, which was co-signed with the two routes.[34]

The final section of the Olympic Loop Highway began construction in 1927 and was opened to traffic with a two-day dedication ceremony in August 1931. It cost approximately $11 million to construct, using state and federal funds.

Washington State Highway Commission submitted an application to AASHO in 1955 to extend US 101 northeast from Discovery Bay to Whidbey Island and Mount Vernon, where it would terminate at US 99.[38] The proposal was rejected by AASHO for being too long of a detour and including a tolled ferry crossing.[39][40]

In January 1964, the Washington State Legislature approved a

PSH 12 became part of U.S. Route 101 with no co-designation and parts of them became other new state routes.[41]

A freeway bypass of Shelton with several interchange was proposed by the state government in the 1960s; its construction would require the relocation of radio station KMAS and 10 residences.[42] Work on the 4.3-mile (6.9 km) bypass began on August 9, 1972, and was completed two years later at a cost of $4 million.[43][44] US 101 was rerouted onto the freeway—which initially had two lanes—on October 11, 1974, and SR 3 was extended to a new interchange over the former alignment.[45]

Major intersections

CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
Columbia River0.00–
0.44		0.00–
0.71
 US 101 south		Continuation into Oregon
Astoria–Megler Bridge
Lewis and Clark Trail – Raymond, Longview
US 101 Alt. north – Raymond, Aberdeen
11.5718.62
Lewis and Clark Trail – Cape Disappointment State Park
Seaview13.3821.53
 SR 103 north (Pacific Way) – Long Beach, Ocean Park
​15.7525.35
US 101 Alt. south – Astoria, Oregon
​28.8946.49
 SR 4 east – Longview, Kelso
Raymond58.4894.11
 SR 6 east – Chehalis
59.4095.60
 SR 105 north – Grayland, Westport
Grays Harbor​76.69123.42
 SR 107 north – Montesano
SR 105 Spur south (Boone Street) – Westport
82.82133.29
 SR 105 south – Westport, Grayland
83.27134.01State AvenueInterchange, northbound exit and southbound entrance
83.37–
83.43		134.17–
134.27
 US 12 east (Heron Street) – Olympia		Western terminus of US 12
Hoquiam87.26140.43
 SR 109 north (Emerson Avenue) – Ocean Shores, Taholah
88.62142.62
SR 109 Spur north – Ocean Shores, Ocean City
Jefferson
 No major junctions
Grays Harbor
 No major junctions
Jefferson​177.90286.30Upper Hoh Road – Olympic National Park, Hoh Rainforest
ClallamForks192.54309.86
 SR 110 west (La Push Road) – Olympic National Park, Pacific Coast, Mora, La Push
Sappho203.28327.15

 SR 113 north (Burnt Mountain Road) to SR 112 – Clallam Bay, Neah Bay, Northwest Coast
​241.89389.28
Strait of Juan de Fuca Highway) – Sekiu, Neah Bay
Port Angeles245.53395.14


 SR 117 north (Tumwater Truck Route) to US 101 east		Interchange, northbound exit and southbound entrance
247.40398.15East Front Street, East 1st Street – B.C. Ferry
248.09399.26Race Street –
SR 111
West end of limited access
Sequim262.29422.11River Road – Sequim City CenterInterchange
263.80424.54Sequim Avenue – Sequim City CenterInterchange
265.36427.06Simdars Road / Washington Street – Sequim City CenterNorthbound entrance and southbound exit
East end of limited access
JeffersonDiscovery Bay281.60453.19
 SR 20 east – Port Townsend
​284.17457.33
 SR 104 east – Kingston		Partial interchange
MasonHoodsport330.77532.32
 SR 119 north (Lake Cushman Road) – Cushman–Staircase Recreation Area
Skokomish336.03540.79
 SR 106 east – Union, Belfair
​342.47551.15
Washington State Patrol Academy, Washington Corrections Center
North end of limited access
Shelton344.15553.86Wallace Kneeland Boulevard
345.85556.59Shelton-Matlock Road – Shelton City Center, Matlock
​348.21560.39
 SR 3 north – Shelton, Bremerton
Kamilche351.77566.12
 SR 108 west – McCleary
Thurston​358.08576.27Steamboat Island Road – Steamboat Island
​359.67578.83
 SR 8 west – Montesano, Aberdeen		Northbound entrance and southbound exit
​360.74580.552nd Avenue Southwest
​362.10582.74Evergreen Parkway, Mud Bay Road –
The Evergreen State College
Northbound entrance and southbound exit
West Olympia
364.57586.72Cooper Point Road / Automall Drive Southwest / Crosby Boulevard
Seattle, Tumwater, Portland
Northern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Alternate route

Sign for Alternate US 101 near Long Beach, Washington
Alternate plate.svg
U.S. Route 101 Alternate marker
U.S. Route 101 Alternate
LocationIlwaco, Washington
Length0.63 mi[1] (1,010 m)
Existed1937–present

US 101 has a designated alternate route east of Ilwaco that bypasses the main highway, which instead continues in a loop to serve Ilwaco and Seaview. It is 0.63 miles (1.01 km) long and travels north–south between two junctions with US 101 on a two-lane highway.[1][46]

The alternate route was constructed in 1931 as the Skinville Cutoff and added to the state highway system in 1937 as a branch of

PSH 12,[47] which was co-signed with the southwestern portion of US 101.[37][48] The highway was not fully recognized as US 101 Alternate by the AASHTO until approval in their October 2006 meeting.[49][50] In 2016, it was used by a daily average of 4,200 vehicles according to a survey by WSDOT.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Multimodal Planning Division (January 4, 2021). State Highway Log Planning Report 2020, SR 2 to SR 971 (PDF) (Report). Washington State Department of Transportation. pp. 807–891. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  2. ^ Leadbeater, Chris (June 29, 2016). "Sonoma County: Cool country cousin". National Geographic. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Washington State Department of Transportation (2014). Washington State Highways, 2014–2015 (PDF) (Map). 1:842,000. Olympia: Washington State Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "Washington State's Scenic Byways & Road Trips" (PDF). Washington State Department of Transportation. 2018. pp. 68–71. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 22, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  5. ^ Wigglesworth, Zeke (August 22, 1993). "Olympic Games: Old-growth forests, glacial peaks, hot springs...We have the British to thank for a peninsula with some of the most varied scenery anywhere". The Mercury News. p. 1G.
  6. ^ "Scenic Highways: Interactive Map". Washington State Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on July 15, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  7. ^ a b National Highway System: Washington (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. September 30, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  8. Washington State Transportation Commission. July 26, 2009. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on July 24, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  9. ^ "National Highway System Routes – Washington State". Washington State Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  10. ^ a b 2016 Annual Traffic Report (PDF) (Report). Washington State Department of Transportation. 2017. pp. 129–136. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  11. ^ Read, Richard (December 27, 2015). "Astoria-Megler Bridge straddles 4 miles, guides ship pilots, withstands gusts: 'Spanning Oregon'". The Oregonian. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  12. ^ Zahn, Andy (June 14, 2012). "Explore century-old Fort Columbia, now a state park". The Daily News. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Corridor Sketch Summary – US 101/SR 100: Astoria Bridge to Cosmopolis" (PDF). Washington State Department of Transportation. April 2, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 14, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "U.S. Route 101 in Washington" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  15. ^ Hammock, Dan (April 29, 2019). "Project to fix slide area on Cosi Hill to last more than a year". The Daily World. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  16. ^ Weingroff, Richard. "U.S. 12: Michigan to Washington". Highway History. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  17. ^ "SR 101: Junction SR 12/SR 101 Couplet Aberdeen" (PDF). Interchange Viewer. Washington State Department of Transportation. October 4, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  18. ^ "Corridor Sketch Summary – US 101: Cosmopolis to Hoquiam" (PDF). Washington State Department of Transportation. March 28, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  19. ^ "SR 101: Junction SR 101 Couplet Aberdeen/SR 109" (PDF). Interchange Viewer. Washington State Department of Transportation. October 4, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  20. ^ a b c d e Olympic National Park (PDF) (Map). National Park Service. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  21. ^ a b Duncan, Don (December 19, 1993). "Sand for all seasons: Where sea meets land in wild abandon, the state's long, dramatic coastline presents a pageant of history and nature". The Seattle Times. p. L1. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  22. ^ O'Sullivan, Joseph (August 25, 2021). "The majestic Hoh Rain Forest is one of the natural wonders of Washington state; venture in and wander". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  23. ^ "Corridor Sketch Summary – US 101: Hoquiam to SR 112 Jct (Lower Elwha vicinity)" (PDF). Washington State Department of Transportation. March 28, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  24. ^ Judd, Ron (August 8, 2014). "Our deep lakes incite curiosity and conjure legends". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  25. ^ Rice, Awryn (August 26, 2014). "Take a walk today on the bottom of a former lake". Peninsula Daily News. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  26. ^ Olson, Donald (August 22, 1999). "Special Corner Of 2 Nations". The New York Times. sec. 5, p. 17. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  27. ^ a b c d "Corridor Sketch Summary – US 101/SR 104/SR 117: US 101 Jct at SR 112 to SR 104 Jct at SR 3" (PDF). Washington State Department of Transportation. March 28, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  28. ^ "Morse Creek curve work completed". Peninsula Daily News. July 25, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  29. ^ Blair, Seabury Jr. (February 7, 1993). "Hike o' the Month: They didn't name Mt. Walker that for nothing". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  30. ^ "Corridor Sketch Summary – US 101: SR 104 Jct (Port Ludlow vicinity) to SR 102 Jct (Shelton)" (PDF). Washington State Department of Transportation. March 28, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  31. ^ a b "Corridor Sketch Summary – US 101: SR 102 Jct (Shelton) to I-5 Jct (Tumwater/Olympia)" (PDF). Washington State Department of Transportation. January 27, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  32. ^ "SR 101: Junction SR 8" (PDF). Interchange Viewer. Washington State Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  33. ^ Weingroff, Richard F. "From Names to Numbers: The Origins of the U.S. Numbered Highway System". Highway History. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  34. ^ Washington State Department of Highways (January 1931). Highway Map, State of Washington (Map). Olympia: Washington State Department of Highways. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  35. ^ "Olympic Loop Highway Completed; Big Celebration Wednesday Will Signal Opening". The Seattle Times. August 24, 1931. p. 12.
  36. ^ "Visitors Depart After Games End on Loop Highway". The Seattle Times. August 28, 1931. p. 8.
  37. ^ a b Washington State Department of Highways (1938). Highways of the State of Washington (Map). Olympia: Washington State Department of Highways. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  38. ^ "Direct link between Camano, Whidbey islands is proposed". The Everett Herald. September 20, 1955. p. 20. Retrieved March 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. Washington State Highway Commission, American Association of State Highway Officials. July 21, 1955. pp. 2–3, 8. Archived
    from the original on October 2, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2023 – via AASHTO Route Numbering Archive.
  40. Island County Times
    . January 26, 1956. p. 1. Retrieved June 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ Washington State Department of Highways (1964). Washington State Highways: Official Highway Map and Tourist Guide of the State of Washington (Map). Olympia: Washington State Highway Commission. Retrieved November 25, 2021 – via WSDOT Library Digital Collections.
  42. ^ Olson, Fred (November 25, 1969). "Plans Firmed For New Freeway". The Olympian. p. 18. Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ^ "Paving Of 101 Starts Monday". The Olympian. September 20, 1974. p. A7. Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ^ "In the spotlight". The Olympian. October 13, 1974. p. A10. Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  45. ^ "Freeway bypass opened to traffic". Shelton-Mason County Journal. October 17, 1974. p. 1. Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via SmallTownPapers.
  46. ^ "U.S. Route 101 Alternate" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  47. Tacoma Daily Ledger
    . July 8, 1931. p. 5. Retrieved November 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  48. ^ United States Army Corps of Engineers (1937). Cape Disappointment Quadrangle, Pacific County, Washington (Topographic map). 1:62,500. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  49. ^ Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering (October 27, 2006). "Annual Meeting Minutes, Special Committee on US Route Numbering" (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  50. ^ Washington State Department of Transportation (September 22, 2006). "An Application from the State Highway or Transportation Department of Washington for the Establishment of a U.S. Alternate Route 101" (PDF). American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. pp. 2–3. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
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