News

Gas main repairs disrupt traffic on Harborview Drive

Update: The city of Gig Harbor announced around 10 a.m. that road work was completed and traffic is moving again. Intermittent closures may still be necessary while PSE completes the project.

Puget Sound Energy will repair a gas main under Harborview Drive on Thursday, Jan. 12, causing significant delays for drivers.

Drivers should avoid the area of Harborview and Austin Street, near Donkey Creek Park, if possible. The closure affects both directions of Harborview and traffic going south from North Harborview Drive toward downtown Gig Harbor.

Work may continue past Thursday, according to the city of Gig Harbor.

Alternative routes include Highway 16 and Bujacich Road-Skansie Avenue.

PSE anticipates a noticeable natural gas odor in the area during the work.

Map shows the location of an emergency closure of Harborview Drive on Thursday, Jan. 12, and possibly longer.

Weather Service warns of heavy rain, landslides

Heavy rainfall could further disrupt activities on Thursday and Friday, the National Weather Service and other forecasters warned.

The service issued a special weather statement warning of increased landslide risk in Western Washington, including the Tacoma and Bremerton areas. A landslide closed a lane of Highway 16 in Gorst for much of Wednesday.

“Heavy rainfall of one to three inches over the lowlands and foothills and 5 to 8 inches over the Olympics is expected Thursday through Saturday,” the NWS statement said. “This amount of rain will raise the soil moisture to high levels and put extra pressure on soil instability, leading to an increased threat of landslides during that period.”

Western WA rainfall totals through Saturday afternoon #wawx 🌧️🌧️🌧️ pic.twitter.com/kO5T4EwbtO

— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) January 12, 2023