PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County commissioners have approved a resolution declaring a state of emergency after weekend storms washed out a portion of Oil City Road.
The measure authorizes Public Works Director Monte Reinders to hire a contractor to repair the stretch, located between mileposts 8 and 9 on Oil City Road south of Forks.
Reinders, who will inspect the road today and prepare to secure a contractor, has estimated the repair costs could be as high as $200,000.
Important step
“This is an important step because it allows the county to get started immediately in fixing the road,” said Commissioner Kathleen Kler, whose district includes the west end of the county.
Kler was in the region over the weekend for an event sponsored by the Jefferson Museum of Art and History and witnessed the damage firsthand.
Bill Roney, a volunteer who ran the event, took several pictures of the washout and noted that the Hoh River was carrying about ten times more water than its normal levels, going from 3,000 or 4,000 cubic feet per second last week to 37,000 cubic feet per second over the weekend.
Kler said Reinders was preparing the emergency request Sunday that was submitted to and approved by the commissioners Monday, and added to the agenda at the last minute.
Storm predicted
While some areas are still recovering from the weekend weather, another system is expected to arrive today.
According to a Monday forecast by the National Weather Service, the Olympic Mountains should expect heavy rains and flooding from today until Thursday. The weather system is predicted to include strong winds and high coastal waves.
The forecast also predicted flooding on most “main stem” rivers, including the Hoh.
Bill Robinson, the west end road foreman for Public Works, said that only three people live beyond the washout on Oil City Road.
While many parts of the road have suffered recent washouts, this portion has stayed in place for several years and last year received a preventive strengthening, Robinson said.
Kler said the stranded people have maintained access by driving up to and then walking around the washout, using a spare car parked on its west side in order to go to town. Oil City Road connects to U.S. Highway 101.
Also following the weekend’s storm, Olympic National Park has reopened some areas closed by weather damage but several others will not be cleared for at least a week.
Those reopened are the Hoh, Mora and Kalaloch areas.
Still closed are Hurricane Ridge, Elwha, Sol Duc and Queets areas.
“Our crews won’t be able to clear those areas until the week of Thanksgiving because they will need to work on other roads,” said Park Ranger Greg Marsh, manager of the Olympic National Park Visitor Center.
________
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
