SR 4 pavingwork under way

Drivers will encounter closures and minor delays on nearly 28 miles of SR 4 for the rest of summer.

Beginning this week, drivers will encounter daytime single-lane closures of up to 20 minutes on SR 4 between Skamokawa and Coal Creek Road (mile post 27.5 to 55.0).

A spokesperson for the construction company working on the highway said the plans, approved by Washington Department of Transportation, call for lane closures of up to 20 minutes. The lane closures will allow contractor crews to install signs and temporary fencing, and to mobilize construction equipment into the area.

The project is scheduled for completion in October. It includes highway paving, upgrading guardrails and cables, and retrofitting bridges with new railings and in some cases new pilings.

Throughout the work, daytime single-lane closures will allow crews to resurface roadways, retrofit and install the new guardrails, and re-stripe the pavement.

In addition, the construction crews will replace a damaged culvert crossing the highway east of Stella Road (mile post 51.5).

A continuous single-lane closure will be implemented for up to two weeks near the roadway east of County Line Park (mile post 42.3). This will allow crews to repair a river embankment.

The $6.5 million construction project was awarded to Lakeside Industries, Inc. of Longview and combines state funding with more than $900,000 in local funds and $200,000 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds provided by Wahkiakum County.

The Washington DOT has also partnered with Wahkiakum County to pave West Little Island Road and Beaver Creek Road as part of the project.