Commissioners OK road closure for dike project

Wahkiakum County commissioners voted 2-1 to approve a closure of Steamboat Slough Road during the construction of a setback dike on the Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge.

The closure is authorized to run August 20 through October 20.

The closure will start where the road intersects with SR 4 near the Elochoman River Bridge and run roughly 3.5 miles.

Public Works Director Pete Ringen said the closure is needed for public safety, for large construction vehicles will be using the road, which is very narrow.

County officials have been very concerned that heavy construction traffic will damage Steamboat Slough Road, which, Ringen said, wasn't constructed for heavy traffic.

Last week, commissioners were informed that the US Army Corps of Engineers, sponsor of the setback dike project, has stipulated to the contractor that the road will be left in as good of condition as it was when construction started.

Commission Chair Blair Brady wanted more than verbal assurance from the Corps about the stipulation.

"I'm loath to proceed without an ironclad obligation on their part," Brady said. "I'm satisfied if Pete's satisfied."

"I would feel more comfortable with a written agreement," Ringen said, "but I think this is all we'll get."

The commission voted 2-1 on a motion to approve Ringen's recommendation to proceed with the construction closure. Commissioners Dan Cothren and Mike Backman voted for the motion; Brady voted against it.

Ringen had scheduled a crew to film the road Tuesday so that the county and Corps would have a record of the road's condition before the project started. He or a staff member would attend the weekly meetings of the Corps and contractor to address any maintenance concerns that might arise.

Skamokawa resident Mike Linn commented that the closure will keep anglers away from a favorite fishing area.

"It's a problem," Brady said, "but so is public safety. They have to do the dike job."