FORKS — Jefferson County officials are seeking grants to build a new $1 million road to replace a stretch of Undie Road in West Jefferson County that could be permanently closed to residents.
The 0.8-mile stretch of Undie Road on the north bank of the Bogachiel River was severely damaged during fall and winter storms.
It is now reduced to one lane, and that barely navigable, according to one of the residents who depends upon the road.
If both lanes are closed, access could be cut off for several families who live off it — at least until the new road is built.
Efforts to restore the road have been unsuccessful, county officials said.
Commissioners passed a resolution Feb. 16 closing the road to all but local traffic and mail service, but even that is now threatened.
“We’ve had a gradual slide of the hillside where the road traverses that has accelerated in recent months,” said County Administrator Philip Morley.
“The pace of the slide has overtaken our ability to maintain it,” he said, adding, “It is a matter of time before the road becomes impassable.”
On Monday, county commissioners unanimously approved a declaration of emergency for Undie Road that will serve as support material for the grant requests the county expects to make for the construction of an alternate route around the affected area.
Morley said the 4,000-foot stretch of new road could cost up to $1 million.
The county, lacking road funds for the construction, is exploring grant opportunities with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Highway Administration and state of Washington, he said.
The road is envisioned as leading away from the river and into the woods, connecting with Undie Road a mile or so to the east, according to Morely.
Last week, residents were hand-delivered a memo that warned the road would soon become completely unusable and the closure “will be long term, perhaps even permanent.”
Worth Brandeberry, 90, who has lived in the area all his life and currently occupies a structure built in 1930, feels the county isn’t trying hard enough.
“We live here and pay taxes, so the county should keep up the road,” he said.
“They’ve gotten timber money for years and we haven’t seen any of it.”
Brandeberry said the road is still passable one vehicle at a time and only 1,500 feet are affected, but a four-wheel drive vehicle is required to pass.
He characterizes the area as “real steep” and said that a certain amount of momentum is required to successfully make the crossing.
Brandeberry said he wanted to visit Port Townsend with a few other residents and address the commissioners at their regular Monday meeting “but I don’t know when we are going to get around to it.”
Brandeberry said the idea of building a new stretch of road is an easy solution.
“Just give me the equipment and I could do it myself in a couple of days,” he said.
Monte Reinders, Jefferson County Public Works director, said construction of a new road isn’t that simple.
It involves permitting, acquiring the land and choosing a route where the same slide problem won’t happen again in a few years, he said.
The county inherited the road from the U.S. Forest Service.
“The county doesn’t have the revenue sources it once had and doesn’t have the money to do this,” Reinders said.
The February resolution states that 16 private parcels are located beyond the washed-out area with no alternative access.
Morley said funding could be in place and construction could begin this summer.
If that doesn’t happen, next winter’s storms could take out the road for good, he said.
“If there isn’t any additional slide activity this summer, it should be able to stay open,” Morley said.
“But the erosion will begin again in the fall.”
The washout has postponed repairs by the U.S. Forest Service on the Bogachiel Rain Forest Trail, which was damaged by recent river activity.
“We will be unable to move forward on this until the road is repaired, so this project is on hold,” said Pacific District Ranger Dean Millett on Tuesday.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
