PORT ANGELES — To align itself for $1.7 million in federal transportation funds, Clallam County on Tuesday amended its transportation plan to include two more funded projects.
The three county commissioners added the seismic retrofit of the McDonald Creek bridge on Old Olympic Highway and scour repairs on the foundation of the Ward bridge across the Dungeness River on Woodcock Road to the funded category in its six-year transportation improvement program.
No public testimony
No public testimony was taken in a public hearing on the amendments Tuesday.
Both projects will be paid for through state-administered federal highway funds.
In order to legally use federal funding, the county has to add both projects to the six-year transportation improvement program, which becomes part of the annual construction program, Tyler told commissioners.
“So this is the procedure by which we do that,” he said.
Costs of projects
The estimated cost of the seismic retrofit of the McDonald Creek bridge is $808,000, according to the revised planning document.
Commissioner Mike Chapman said the repairs to the McDonald Creek bridge are “clearly a big deal” because of its current condition and the number of vehicles and commercial trucks that use it.
The project is slated to be finished in 2013.
The estimated cost of the Ward bridge scour repair is $874,000.
Scour occurs when the current of a river or tidal area undercuts the foundation that holds the pilings in place, which can compromise the integrity of the structure.
An evaluation done about 20 years ago revealed that the concrete support below the newer bridge deck has been scoured, and it isn’t clear how deep the old pilings go, Tyler said.
“We watch that bridge very closely during any [storm] event,” Tyler said after the hearing.
“It’s called scour critical.”
The repairs are scheduled to be completed in 2012.
The six-year transportation plan is updated each December. The annual construction program is derived from the six-year road plan.
“These were competitive projects,” Tyler said.
“They have to compete with other similar projects of a similar magnitude.”
Appointments
In other news, Nancy Messmer was appointed to represent District No. 3 on the Heritage Advisory Board.
Commissioner Mike Doherty said Messmer, who lives in Sekiu, will be a “great asset” to the board.
Elizabeth Strait and Laurie Davies were reappointed to the Clallam County Fair Advisory Board for terms expiring in September 2014.
Arlene Engel was reappointed to the Peninsula Regional Support Network Advisory Committee. Engel, who will serve through 2013, also is an Olympic Medical Center commissioner.
An agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers to study the feasibility of the Lower Dungeness Dike setback project was postponed for additional legal review.
Commissioners also authorized a line of credit from the opportunity fund not to exceed $151,000 for the Peninsula Housing Authority’s Eklund Heights walking path project.
County funding is contingent on full funding from other sources and the letting of contracts. Commissioners have the Peninsula Housing Authority to hire local contractors.
The Opportunity Fund Board of Directors recommended the line of credit in a Jan. 24 meeting.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.