SR4 safety project slated to begin this summer

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is getting ready to begin its

safety improvements to the State Route 4 Corridor between mileposts 45.92 and 45.95, just east of County Line Park.

In order to perform the work, WSDOT will have to fully close SR4 for scheduled 45 minute stretches, allowing traffic to pass for 15 minutes every hour, on the hour. The road closures will begin at 8:15 a.m. Monday through Friday and the road will reopen by 5 p.m. each day. This schedule will remain in place for approximately three weeks for the crews to work safely. In the case of a rock fall, longer closures may be needed in order to clear the road.

Recent maintenance records and geotechnical investigations show that rock fall prevention is necessary at this location in order to reduce the risk of rocks falling onto the highway and to enhance safety to the traveling public.

Crews will remove loose rock, unstable soil, trees and other debris from this slope. In addition, crews will install rock anchors to hold large rocks in place to further stabilize the rock slope above the highway. Crews will also install a cable fence along the slope to reduce the risk of rocks falling onto the highway.

An Open House will be held at the Cowlitz PUD Room at 961 12th Ave in Longview on February 6 from 4-7 p.m. to allow the public to give their thoughts on the project.

The project will then be advertised for construction. Actual construction is slated to begin sometime this summer.

WSDOT will provide updates on the project’s progress using public meetings or open houses, project mailings, the local media and at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR4/CountyLineRockfall/default.htm.

For more information on the project, contact WSDOT's Kelso Area Engineering Office at 800-545-1393.