PORT ANGELES — Road and trail projects in Clallam County will be scaled back in the coming years because of declining revenue.
Even so, the county has some big things in store for 2010.
Among the highlights of the county’s transportation improvement program for 2010 to 2015, which the three commissioners adopted on Tuesday, is the proposed $8 million underpass of U.S. Highway 101 near Deer Park Cinema.
Under the current alignment, a new county road will be dug beneath the highway west of Old Deer Park Road and C’est Si Bon restaurant.
The six-year road plan must fall in line with budget estimates and expected revenue.
It was discussed in three hearings last month in Port Angeles, Forks and Sequim, and endorsed by the Clallam County Planning Commission on Oct. 7.
“Revenues are no longer keeping pace with inflation,” Clallam County Transportation Program Manager Rich James said in his staff report to the commissioners.
“We will not be able to add new projects to the funded section as much as we would like to do until a new funding source is found.”
Funded projects for 2010 include:
— Deer Park underpass. Right of way acquisition and design will take place next year. Construction could be delayed until 2011.
“Things would have to fall very much our way in terms of acquiring right of way in order for it to be constructed in 2010,” James said.
Federal transportation dollars will cover more than $5 million of the cost.
The state has allocated another $865,000 for the safety improvement project that will eliminate left turns onto the highway from Deer Park Road and Buchanan Drive.
Improvements to the rest stop on the north side of the highway are included in the project.
— Nichols Bridge replacement. The small bridge off Hoko-Ozette Road was washed out by the Big River in a January flood.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will cover half the cost of the $3 million replacement.
Construction will wrap up in 2010.
“It will be a major project for us,” James said.
— Bogachiel Way reconstruction. The county wants to pick up the replacement of the major Forks from the county line. The arterial 0.13-mile segment will cost $244,000 to overhaul.
— Black Diamond Road improvements. Widening, regrading and drainage improvements are estimated at $216,000.
“It’s been designed and it just needs to be constructed,” James said.
— Old Olympic Highway reconstruction. A $750,000 state grant will pay for most of the three-fourths of a mile segment from Matson-Spring roads to east of Barr-Gunn roads. Preliminary engineering and right of way acquisition for the next half-mile of the county highway will take place in 2010 with construction scheduled for 2011.
— Olympic Discovery Trail construction. The trail will one day span the North Olympic Peninsula from Port Townsend to LaPush,
County, state and federal sources will contribute $480,000 to four segments of the trail next year from the new, double-deck Elwha River Bridge to west of Lake Crescent.
Seeking grants
The county is seeking grants to pay for 46 other road projects left off the funding list.
“We have a real challenge in front of us if another ongoing source of funding is not found to replace the lost Secure Schools funding, flat gas tax revenues and timber tax revenues,” James said..
“Construction improvement projects will be limited unless funded by outside grants.”
The county tries to maintain 70 miles of road every year, but under current funding levels that distance will shrink to about 30 miles.
Building code appeals
Meanwhile, three public comments were taken in favor of a proposal to change the appeal process for building code actions.
Commissioners took no action on the proposal to replace the hearings examiner with a building code board of appeals, but they did express support for the proposal.
A draft ordinance to amend the county’s building and construction code — along with revisions proposed by members of the Permit Advisory Board — was referred to Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Doug Jensen for review.
A hearings examiner has overseen the county’s appeals process since 2001.
The proposed board of appeals would include members with a board range of expertise.
A third public hearing with no comment taken preceded a vote to open county right of way for an applicant seeking to build a private road to access his property.
Earlier in the board meeting, the commissioners adopted a memorandum of agreement with the Lower Elwha Tribe to reimburse the county for replacement of six fish barrier culverts on tributaries of Salt Creek west of Port Angeles.
The Clallam County Road Department is handling design, contract administration and inspection of the culverts on Nordstrom, Dempsey, Miller, Barr, Hoffman, Wanner and Wasankari creeks.
The tribe is using grants from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Salmon Recovery Funding Board to pay for the fish habitat restoration project. Maximum reimbursement for the project, which runs through 2010, is $1.1 million.
________
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
