Tonight, WSDOT will close Highway 20 north of the bridge, south of the intersection of Miller and Gibraltar roads, for a test blast that will mark the start of a $34.3 million road improvement project.

Last night’s scheduled test blast north of Deception Pass was postponed.

The work is scheduled from 8 p.m. tonight to 4:30 a.m. tonight morning, March 25.

Crews will use explosives to remove layers of rock along the highway between the north and south ends of Miller Road, Dave Chesson of WSDOT communications said. The crews will also lower the hill by 12-feet to improve motorists’ visibility.

Motorists will be led through a detour via Miller Road, causing minor traffic delays.

Completion of the project is expected to take eight weeks to complete, Chesson said, and will require the removal of 4,600 dump truck loads of material.

For up-to-date road closures related to the Highway 20 road work, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR20/QuietCove_SR20spur/.