Drivers who travel on State Route 16 between Port Orchard and Gorst, take notice: Westbound traffic in both lanes of that highway has been shifted to temporary detour lanes as part of the Anderson Creek culvert work.

The traffic change took place last weekend as state Department of Transportation contractor crews transitions into the SR 16/166 culvert installation project’s second phase. The work calls for replacing the northern culvert next to Sinclair Inlet, designated by project planners as culvert 2.

Speeds also have been lowered for phase 2 of the SR 16 Anderson Creek tributary to Sinclair Inlet project.

The fish culvert project has shifted gears so that contractor work crews can install a box culvert beneath the roadway and keep traffic moving, according to project engineer Michele Britton.

Speed limits on westbound SR 16 have been reduced from 60 mph to 40 mph in the work zone.

The eastbound SR 16 exit to eastbound SR 166 at Bay Street has reopened to traffic. Westbound SR 166, which is being used for the westbound SR 16 traffic shift, will remain closed with a signed detour in place, according to Britton.

The temporary westbound SR 16 reconfiguration is expected to be in place for up to six weeks while crews install the second of three culverts at Anderson Creek. Crews just finished installing the first culvert under 166 as part of its Phase 1 work.

As with the initial phase of work, drivers should plan extra time into their trips, Britton said.

In about a month, phase 3 work will begin. That effort will be more complicated, state planners said.

Crews will replace culvert 3, the section farthest from Sinclair Inlet. Westbound 16 heading to Bremerton will be open.

Eastbound 16 heading to Tacoma will be reduced to two lanes, one of which leads to Port Orchard via SR 166, and one to Tacoma. SR 166 will be open both directions into and out of downtown Port Orchard during the phase 3 work.