PORT ANGELES — Clallam County has taken ownership of a one-mile section of U.S. Forest Service Road 2918 to extend the Olympic Discovery Trail on the West End.
The one-lane paved road goes south from U.S. Highway 101 to the Sol Duc River between Fairholm Hill and Sappho.
At the 0.86-mile mark, the Olympic Discovery Trail will cut right and cross the Sol Duc River on a Merrill & Ring bridge and continue west on a former railroad grade.
Points beyond the 0.86-mile mark will remain Forest Service Road 2918.
“This road goes through primarily Ring Family Trust and Merrill & Ring timberland,” said County Engineer Ross Tyler, who made the recommendation to accept the federal road into the county system.
“The plan is to parallel the 2918 road for 0.86 miles to that bridge, and then we have an agreement with Merrill & Ring to use that bridge to get across the Sol Duc River and head on westward towards the city of Forks.”
The three commissioners voted unanimously to establish the new county road.
No public testimony was offered during a Tuesday hearing on the matter.
The Forest Service, which has cooperated with the county in its effort to extend the trail, was not comfortable with a trail running parallel to its road, Tyler said.
“Their deal was, if you want to build the trail within the right of way of this 0.86 miles, then we would like you to take responsibility for the road, also, for that length,” Tyler said.
The Merrill & Ring company built the bridge to access its timberlands on the west side of the Sol Duc River.
The Olympic Discovery Trail eventually will connect Puget Sound to the Pacific Ocean from Port Townsend to LaPush.
In 2012 appointments
In other board action, commissioners confirmed their 2012 appointments to 39 advisory boards and established interest areas for 18 county departments.
All three commissioners serve on the Board of Health, Olympic Consortium Board, Peninsula Regional Support Network Executive Committee and the Olympic Area Agency on Aging as members of the Washington State Association of Counties.
Each commissioner is a liaison to six departments to build working relationships with elected officials, department heads and county employees.
Commissioner Mike Doherty is the liaison to District Court No. 2; Information Technology; Law Library; Parks, Fair and Facilities; Roads, Solid Waste and Sewer; and Washington State University Extension.
Commissioner Mike Chapman’s interest areas are Clerk; District Court No. 1, Human Resources, Juvenile Services, prosecuting attorney and Sheriff’s Office.
Commissioner Jim McEntire is the liaison to assessor, auditor, community development, health and human services, Superior Court and treasurer.
The list of the advisory board appointments is available at www.clallam.net.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.