The project to replace the historic log rail through Deception Pass State Park will wrap up four months early, officials from the Washington State Department of Transportation said Tuesday.

The state has been replacing sections of the log guardrail along a two-mile stretch of State Route 20. Workers expect to complete most of the work by the Memorial Day weekend. The $5.5 million project was originally scheduled to finish in the fall.

The state is replacing sections of the guardrail to better protect drivers on Highway 20 in the event of accidents. The number of collisions had climbed from 10 in 1980 to 22 in 2000.

State officials said the 1930s-era guardrail system was not designed to withstand the force of modern car crashes, and some of the original logs had begun to rot and a few of the stone supports had started to crumble.

Work crews will come back in early June to install permanent lane markings.