Road closing next week for repair

The Hungry Highway in western Wahkiakum County will be closed three days next week so the county road department can repair slide damage.

The closure is set for Tuesday through Thursday.

The slope below the road, which connects the Salmon Creek and Upper Naselle River roads, slid away in a heavy rain storm January 5, forcing closure of a lane of travel and leaving utility lines hanging in open air.

Public Works Director Pete Ringen said Tuesday that representatives of state and federal transportation agencies said they believe the repair will qualify for disaster assistance funding.

The repair will cost around $80,000, Ringen said, including engineering and administration.

"The planned approach for this slide includes excavating keys or benches in the very steep hillside, then backfilling with a high quality material that has better strength properties when compacted," Ringen said.

The crew will install gabbion baskets in the upper portion of the slope.

Ringen added that the slide is located in a swale on the hill and water drains from above. The crew will modify drainage along the road.

Commissioner Dan Cothren commented that engineers for Hancock Timber Management have developed inexpensive techniques for handling drainage that Ringen could consider.