PORT ANGELES — Clallam County will start paving a 1.6-mile section of the Olympic Discovery Trail east of the one-year-old Elwha River bridge next month.
County commissioners voted 3-0 on Tuesday to approve the resolution that starts the $260,000 project. Paving is expected to be completed before the height of the rainy reason.
Most of the project is being funded by a combination of federal grants.
Ross Tyler, Clallam County engineer, said the 8-foot-wide paved trail will be located on the outer half of the gravel road that drops into the Elwha River valley on the old Milwaukee Railroad grade.
The Lower Elwha Klallam tribe will use federal funds to pave the next section to the east.
Dry Creek bridge
Further to the east, the city of Port Angeles already is building a pedestrian bridge that will carry utility pipes over Dry Creek.
“They’re just getting essentially started with the stuff that goes down into the ground, and work their way up from there,” Tyler told commissioners.
The city hired Exceltech Consulting Inc., in February to design the 200-foot-long bridge over Dry Creek. The total budget for design and construction is $673,100.
City officials hope to finish construction by the end of the year.
The city’s pedestrian bridge will connect Port Angeles to all points west on the Olympic Discovery Trail. Eventually, the trail will connect Port Townsend to the Pacific Ocean at LaPush.
Clallam County is now building sections of trail on a former railroad grade near Lake Crescent.
River Road
Meanwhile, the county opened a $151,755 bid from Lakeside Industries to resurface a section of River Road between Washington Street and U.S. Highway 101 in west Sequim for the city of Sequim.
Paving will include the roundabout at Washington Street and River Road.
Clallam County will administer the contract on behalf of the city.
“The city didn’t have the staff to go ahead and put the contract together and the plans together,” Tyler said.
“We’re sharing what services we have with other agencies. This is probably the wave of the future.”
According to state law, the county will charge the city the same amount it pays.
Lakeside’s bid came in $441 over Tyler’s estimate.
Resurfacing of River Road will likely take place in April or May, Tyler said.
County approval of Lakeside’s bid was contingent on Sequim Public Works Director Paul Haines’ approval. Haines approved the bid after the commissioners’ meeting.
“They’re fine with it,” Tyler said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
