PORT ANGELES — Clallam County officials are seeking federal funding to extend the Olympic Discovery Trail into Forks on a multi-user bridge over the Calawah River.
Commissioners Mark Ozias and Randy Johnson on Monday reviewed a federal grant application to construct the bridge and about one mile of new trail from the Calawah River to the intersection of U.S. Highway 101 and Sitkum-Sol Duc Road.
“This would be the first segment of the planned connection of the Olympic Discovery Trail to the city of Forks,” county Transportation Program Manager Steve Gray told commissioners.
“It would connect to the planned trail extension from Forks to La Push along the SR (state route) 110 corridor, La Push Road, and it would also close the trail gap between Forks and the existing Olympic Discovery Trail near Sappho.”
The county Road Department will apply for up to $400,000 in federal Transportation Alternatives program funding, Gray said.
Grants will be awarded by the Peninsula Regional Transportation Planning Organization.
Clallam County would be responsible for a 13.5 percent match.
The total project cost is estimated to be $1.2 million to $1.5 million, Gray said.
“The most expensive part is the bridge crossing,” he added.
Funding
Clallam County received a $300,000 pledge from a private trust to support construction of the multi-user bridge crossing, according to the grant application.
Commissioner Randy Johnson said the project was “critical for the ODT.”
“Everyone’s behind it, and having private money come forward is nothing but good,” Johnson said.
The new bridge would be near the U.S. Highway 101 crossing at the Calawah River boat launch on the north side of the city, according to the county’s six-year Transportation Improvement Program.
It would be wide enough to accommodate all terrain vehicles (ATVs) and non-motorized Olympic Discovery Trail traffic, Gray said.
The ATV crossing was supported by Forks community members at public meetings, Gray said.
The Calawah River bridge and ODT extension into Forks are scheduled for construction in 2021, according to the county six-year road plan.
Cross-Peninsula
Once completed, the ODT will span the North Olympic Peninsula between Port Townsend to La Push.
Meanwhile, Johnson and Ozias voted Tuesday — with Commissioner Bill Peach excused — to approve a settlement agreement with the state Department of Ecology over stormwater permitting for the Port Angeles Urban Growth Area.
Clallam County challenged Ecology’s July 2019 determination that the unincorporated area must have permittee status under the Western Washington Municipal Stormwater Phase II General Permit.
“I appreciate the creative teamwork and the hard work that it took to get us to this point,” Ozias said of the settlement.
“I hate to go to court,” Johnson added.
“It’s not my priority in life, ever, and I appreciate all of the input from many different people.”
Community Development Director Mary Ellen Winborn said Monday the settlement would save the county about $250,000 per year in staffing costs.
As part of the settlement, the county agreed to enact countywide development regulations that prohibit illicit stormwater discharges and comply with Ecology’s stormwater management manual.
To that end, commissioners approved Tuesday a one-year, $100,000 agreement with AHBL Inc. for stormwater management activities.
The Tacoma consultant will facilitate a stormwater work group, update stormwater documents, develop stormwater ordinances and manuals, assist with outreach, education and training and perform a data gap and needs assessment, according to the professional services agreement.
“We’ve committed to accomplishing an awful lot in a relatively short period of time with the settlement agreement,” Ozias said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at rollikainen@peninsula dailynews.com.
