PORT ANGELES — Clallam County will blaze an additional 1.5 miles of the Olympic Discovery Trail on Fairholme Hill west of Lake Crescent if the three commissioners approve a $611,185 agreement with the state Department of Transportation today.
More than 86 percent of the cost would come from federal funds in the regional surface transportation program. County road funds would cover the remaining $86,835.
The project is listed in the county’s six-year transportation improvement program.
“This segment starts at the top of Fairholme Hill and continues west and brings the project out to the highway on the west side of Fairholme Hill,” Clallam County Transportation Program Coordinator Rich James told commissioners Monday.
The segment will connect to an existing 6.4-mile stretch of trail on the north side of Lake Crescent.
Eventually, the Olympic Discovery Trail will span the North Olympic Peninsula from Port Townsend to LaPush. James said it will likely take 10 years to finish the trail.
Jefferson County has about 30 miles of trail in place, James said.
Clallam County has a working trail from Blyn to Ediz Hook, most of which is paved. There two miles of trail heads east of the Elwha River bridge, where the trail hangs below the 85-foot-tall traffic deck.
The city of Port Angeles is almost finished building a three-mile segment on the old Milwaukee Road railroad grade. A new pedestrian bridge over Dry Creek is ready for use.
The trail follows Milwaukee Drive through West Port Angeles to Kacee Way and Lower Elwha Road.
Farther to the west, a 25-mile “adventure route” connects the Elwha River valley and Lake Crescent.
Built by Clallam County inmate work crews and volunteers, the adventure route offers a wilderness experience for hikers and mountain bikers.
A paved version of the trail is being planned for the state Highway 112 corridor though Joyce.
The Olympic Discovery Trail is taking shape on the north side of Lake Crescent along the Milwaukee railroad grade. Tunnels are being restored for trail users.
Past Lake Crescent and Fairholme Hill, future segments of the trail will be built near U.S. Highway 101 and state Highway 110 to LaPush.
________
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
