GIG HARBOR — Work to repair the State Route 16 Olympic Drive overpass starts next week. The overpass was struck and damaged by an over-height load in 2013.

Beginning Aug. 4, motorists will encounter weeknight single-lane closures on west and eastbound SR 16 approaching Olympic Drive NW, and on Olympic Drive NW itself. For the first few weeks, construction crews will install temporary striping, guardrail and signs.

The westbound SR 16 lane closures are scheduled Monday through Friday, August 4-8, between the hours of 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. Eastbound SR 16 lane closures are scheduled for the same nights between 7 p.m. and 4 a.m. Olympic Drive NW itself will be reduced to two lanes, one lane in each direction, from10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

This project will continue through the end of the year, and will involve at least four full, overnight closures of westbound and eastbound SR 16. Traffic will keep moving during the full closures by using the Olympic Drive NW off- and on-ramps. The Washington State Department of Transportation will announce these full closures when they are scheduled.

WSDOT is repairing the damaged bridge girder by installing a new girder on the westbound half of the bridge. In addition to restoring the integrity of the overpass, the westbound lanes of SR 16 will be restriped to gain just over two inches of vertical clearance, and new overhead signs will be installed.

The intention of the Washington State Department of Transportation is to recuperate costs to the agency resulting from the girder damage and repairs from the responsible party.