SEQUIM — Clallam County will grant easement to the city of Sequim next week for a new road that will tie Washington Street into Grant Road on Sequim’s west side.
County commissioners said Monday they would approve the easement after the Sequim City Council considers it Monday.
The short road is intended to ease traffic at the business hub that incudes Applebee’s restaurant, Taco Time and Quality Inn and Suites.
Motorists will follow Grant Road north to West Washington Street rather than making a left turn across River Road. The tie road will serve a handful of property owners as well as the businesses, county
officials said.
The agreement is a component of a August 2010 pact between the county and Sequim for the Grant Road extension and resurfacing work on River Road between U.S. Highway 101 and Washington Street.
“The more recent agreement is simply addressing easement,” said Clallam County Utilities Manager Bob Martin.
Martin said the county already has moved an irrigation pipe from the easement to the west edge of the county road department shop.
Resurfacing of River Road has already been completed.
In return for the 15-foot-wide easement, the city will not charge the county for sewer and water connections for the road shop. The sides agreed that it was a fair swap.
The Grant Road area was annexed into the city a few years ago.
The county will design and build the tie road for the city under the 2010 interlocal agreement. Sequim will pay the county from revenue collected from a 2008 transportation improvement levy.
The estimated cost is $250,000.
Martin said the county hopes to begin construction later this year.
If required, the city will install and maintain street lights on the tie road, according to the agreement.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com
