PORT ANGELES — Storm-battered sections of Olympic Discovery Trail east of Port Angeles are expected to be fixed by the end of the year.

The Port Angeles City Council on Tuesday will consider approval of a contract to repair the damage, caused mainly by winter storms in 2008 and 2009.

City Engineer Mike Puntenney said the project is expected to cost about $485,0000, much lower than the $825,659 estimate given to the council last week.

Puntenney said the price reduction is due to bids coming in lower than expected. Jordan Excavating of Port Angeles submitted the lowest bid at $337,000.

The repair work itself was expected to cost about $765,000, he said.

“They were really outstanding,” Puntenney said of the eight bids reviewed Thursday.

FEMA contribution

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has agreed to pay 75 percent of the project. The city’s share would be 12.5 percent; the state also would pay 12.5 percent.

The dramatic drop in cost for the project essentially relieves the city of having to front an additional $200,000 for the work due to a grant moratorium initiated by FEMA in response to recent hurricanes.

Puntenney said $58,000 still may be requested for landslide removal.

The city thought it would have to seek the additional funds after an early project estimate of $619,244 shot up to $825,659.

On Sept. 20, Public Works and Utilities Director Glenn Cutler told the council that the city needed to start the work before the additional funds could be approved because it couldn’t wait for another round of fall and winter storms.

“We’ve had our fingers crossed even for last year,” he said.

The contract will mainly deal with restoring riprap along the shoreline and removing landslide debris along the sides of the trail, a former railroad right of way.

The damage, which includes some undercutting near the shoreline, is located between the former Rayonier mill site and Morse Creek.

‘Every year’

Joggers and bicyclists using the trail Thursday mostly shrugged off concerns over the storm damage, including recent slides.

“It happens every year,” said Thomas Nathe, 41.

“I just pick up my bike and walk over it,” said Brent Walton, 21.

Sam Langley, son of Peninsula Trails Coalition founder Mike Langley, said he is glad to see that the trail is going to get the care it deserves.

“I think it’s great,” the 16-year-old said while riding his bike, “so that people continue to use it and see the waterfront.”

The trails coalition, formed in 1988, spurred the idea for the trail, which will eventually stretch from Port Townsend to LaPush.

Puntenney said the work is expected to begin within the next couple of weeks and may take until early December to finish.

Portions of the trail will be closed during that time, he said.

Puntenney said it has taken this long for the repairs to start because of the lengthy permitting process involving work on the shoreline.

“It just takes a long time to get through,” he said.

In addition to the riprap, logs will be placed in the water to create fish habitat, the engineer said.

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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.