Widening two-lane U.S. Highway 101 between Port Angeles and Sequim is in the new state transportation budget after all.
Rep. Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, confirmed Monday that an updated project list released April 25 — the day after the Legislature adjourned — contained $2.5 million for the project.
“The latest project list was updated the day after we left the session,” she said.
The post-session update is credited as the reason for confusion later in the week that the seed money to start widening the crash-prone stretch of U.S. 101 between Shore and Kitchen-Dick roads had been yanked from the $8.5 billion transportation plan.
It’s the same plan that calls for a phased-in, 9.5 cents per gallon gasoline tax increase, weight fees on some vehicles and other cost increases.
Kessler said the transportation budget project list includes $2.5 million in 2009-2011 to widen U.S. Highway 101 from two lanes to four between Shore Road and Kitchen-Dick Road.
Rep. Jim Buck, R-Joyce, said Monday afternoon that the $2.5 million probably would pay for the McDonald Creek bridge widening, which he said is the most difficult and expensive portion of the $34 million project.
If that money was appropriated for the project, then full widening of the 2.25-mile stretch will be funded as well, he said.
Project list
Kessler said the project list shows $267 million being spent on state transportation projects in Clallam County in 2005-2007, $133 million in 2007-2009 and $31 million in 2009-2011.
The Legislature passed a 16-year, $8.5 billion transportation package by a 55-43 vote on April 24, the last day of the 2005 legislative session.
It adds 9.5 cents to the state gas tax over four years.
The budget also includes new weight fees on cars and passenger trucks that could range between $10 and $30 a year, depending on the weight of the vehicle, and a new fees on motor homes.
Higher driver’s license fees and tolls are also expected.