Detour sought for East Valley project

Wahkiakum County officials are looking for a way to get around a major road construction project at the end of East Valley Road this summer.

Storms in early 2009 led to a significant settling of the road, and a long stretch has been limited to one-lane traffic since then. The county road crew periodically has to smooth out areas where it settles, said Public Works Director Pete Ringen.

The easiest way to accomplish the settlement project would be to close the road and allow the contractor to dig out the soft material and place a hard base. However, that would cut five families off from the outside world and severely impact the business of Columbia River Kayaking and the Inn at Lucky Mud. The kayak guides operate an Elderhostel Road Scholar program that brings people to Skamokawa and uses the inn for accommodations. Co-owner Andrew Emlen said this week that a complete closure could cost the group nearly $50,000.

Public Works Director said he's looking for a detour route.

One option he's exploring would use a 2.5 mile stretch of logging road. It would need improvement in places.

A rough estimate of the cost would be $100,000, he said, with the county responsible for $12,500 of that cost.

Skamokawa Fire Chief Duncan Cruikshank pointed out that a complete closure would put the residents on the other side of the project at greater risk because of delays for fire or ambulance response.

Ringen said he will continue to study the possible detour route, what it would involve, and what the costs would be.