BRINNON — While one washout on Dosewallips Road is about to be repaired, a second washout on the road’s upper reaches through the Olympic National Forest is testing the patience of local residents.
Dosewallips Road to the Dosewallips Campground in Olympic National Park has been closed to cars for long enough — 14 years — and it’s time to push members of Congress to do something about it, according to two Jefferson County commissioners and one past commissioner.
Repairs approved
At Monday’s meeting, commissioners Phil Johnson and David Sullivan approved $176,000 in county and state funds to complete a permanent repair to a section that was washed out in 2014 and received temporary repairs at that time.
Commissioner Kathleen Kler was in Washington, D.C., on Monday for the National Association of Counties conference.
The project includes paving and guardrail and drainage improvements, according to county documents.
No dates for the permanent repair work have been announced.
Only foot traffic
During a public comment period Monday, the commissioners heard a complaint from former commissioner John Austin that while the county was completing repairs on the lower washout, the National Forest Service had not followed through on repairs to a second one that has blocked all but pedestrian access for 14 years.
The commissioners agreed with Austin that it was time to look into getting that road reopened.
More than 300 feet of roadbed, located five miles from the end of the road, was washed out during floods of Dosewallips River in 2002.
According to Forest Service documents, a $4.5 million reroute and repair plan was selected in November of 2010.
However, there has not been funding available to the Forest Service, which owns the road at that point, to begin work on the project.
Campground
Since the closure, the Dosewallips Campground has been open for only those willing to hike in the remaining five miles.
“The campground is still in good shape. It should be easy to restore that,” Johnson said.
County administrator Philip Morley said he would ask Kler to address the issue with representatives while she is in Washington, D.C.
“It’s a gateway to the national park, and it is an important asset for the economy in Brinnon,” Morley said.
Sullivan said he spoke to U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer about roads during the congressman’s visit to the area last week.
“They’re well aware of our issues,” Sullivan said.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
