PORT ANGELES — Construction of the Spruce Railroad Trail will resume this summer between the Lyre River trailhead and historic railroad grade on the north shore of Lake Crescent.
Clallam County will pave and widen the scenic trail in short segments in the coming years, said Rich James, transportation program manager.
Once completed in 2018 or 2019, the 3.5-mile Spruce Railroad Trail will become part of the 140-mile Olympic Discovery Trail, which will eventually span the North Olympic Peninsula form Port Townsend to LaPush.
“This is a multi-year project because of our very short construction windows because of the endangered species involved,” James told the three commissioners Tuesday.
“We’re actually dealing with marbled murrelets here. So we have very short construction seasons. We can only actually finish a half-mile or a mile a year.”
Commissioners next Tuesday will consider a three-party agreement with the National Park Service and the Western Federal Lands Highway Division to build a complex trail segment near the east end of the Spruce Railroad Trail.
The 1,800-foot section drops from a hill to a 97-year-old railroad grade near the shores of the iconic lake.
No commissioner objected to the agreement in a Tuesday work session.
“It’s probably technically the most difficult one to build because you’re coming through that section of trail that’s now three feet wide, and it’s a 20 percent grade,” James said.
The new-look Spruce Railroad Trail will be 14 feet wide and have slopes no greater than 8 percent to meet Americans with Disability Act requirements.
“So that’s why it’s an expensive section to build,” James said.
“You’re going through very difficult terrain to get yourself back on the railroad grade.”
Clallam County has secured $600,000 in federal funds for the trail segment and has committed $90,000 from its own road fund.
The first 1,300 feet of the Spruce Railroad Trail trail was built last year.
Next year, Clallam County will widen the west end of the trail to the first of two historic railroad tunnels.
The tunnels will be restored to serve bicyclists, hikers, wheelchair users, equestrians and other trail users who will use the Spruce Railroad Trail to bypass U.S. Highway 101.
“In 2017, we would jump over to the other side of the lake and tie into the paved trail that we’ve finished, and then we’d being it down the hill to the lake,” James said.
“And then in 2018, we would build the 1.7 miles that’s between the two tunnels.”
Officials with the National Park Service and Western Federal Lands Highway Division have already signed the project agreement.
The Spruce Railroad Trail is within the boundaries of Olympic National Park.
“Personally, I support this and recognize how critical it is for us to get through that segment that the park controls,” Commissioner Bill Peach said.
“We’ve got administration that’s favorable in terms of working with us.”
James and County Engineer Ross Tyler agreed that current Olympic National Park Superintendent Sarah Creachbaum has been a good partner in the development of the Spruce Railroad Trail.
“This [segment] would be built this summer,” James said.
“It’s already designed. It’s ready to go out to bid. Hopefully, we’ll get a local contractor to build it.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
