Elochoman bridge repair set

Wahkiakum County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a funding proposal for repair of the August Hanson Bridge over the Elochoman River at Beaver Creek Road.

The bad news is that the repair will cost an estimated $805,100.

The good news is that federal and state funding sources will pick up the entire cost.

Normally, county Public Works Director Pete Ringen said, the county would be responsible for $106,650 of the cost, but the state County Road Administration Board will pick up the county's tab from its emergency funds.

The bridge sustained damage to its upstream girder in flooding in the winter of 2006-07. Ringen had issued a call for bids last fall when a new round of flooding occurred last December. The bridge sustained more damage and forced the engineers to come up with a new plan of repair.

That new plan, Ringen said, involves replacing the damaged girder and raising the bridge. The project is on schedule for this year.

Commissioners also approved a recommendation from Ringen to call for quotes for repair of treated timber sideboards protecting piers on the Foster Road Bridge over the Elochoman.

The bridge is an old design with the columnar piers going into the water. The wooden sideboards were added to keep logs and wood chunks from lodging between the piers. Last December's floods caused damage that needs to be repaired.

The county has been awarded $40,000 in federal funds for these and other repairs, Ringen said.