Port Angeles graving yard project may be halted permanently

PENINSULA DAILY NEWS EXCLUSIVE

OLYMPIA — After sinking millions of dollars into the Hood Canal Bridge graving yard, the state may now simply pack up — and walk away.

New pontoons and anchors for the aging bridge’s eastern half will probably have to be built somewhere other than Port Angeles, a majority of state transportation commissioners said Wednesday.

After hearing a 90-minute crash course on the graving yard and the major archaeological find there — the centuries-old Klallam village of Tse-whit-zen — four of seven commissioners told Peninsula Daily News that they would not contest the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe’s wishes that work on the 22.5-acre graving yard — and the archeological excavations — be halted permanently.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Commissioners said they still hold out hope of reaching a compromise with the tribe.

Department of Transportation officials say they’ll hold a conference call with tribal council members Friday.

However, that hope seemed slim Wednesday in light of Tribal Chairwoman Frances Charles’ letter last Friday that she wants all excavation to stop.

The tribe’s demand follows the state’s reluctance to continue to halt construction work on the graving yard while more archaeological work is done.

Concern about bridge

There is concern that the east half of the Hood Canal Bridge is in bad shape and won’t last much longer.

The issue on the state’s side is also economic — about $283.5 million for the bridge replacement project itself (about $100 million more than was forecast before work was halted), $4.6 million spent on archaeological recovery — and potential millions in economic losses to Clallam and Jefferson counties if the bridge is disabled or lost.

Transportation officials thought the site contained only a couple of dozen ancient graves, but they’ve already found 10 times that many — at least 256 Klallam forebears, almost 800 isolated skeletal parts — plus more than 5,000 tools and other artifacts.

Both the tribe and state archaeologists say Tse-whit-zen is the largest discovery of its type in the Northwest. The village was torn down about 1920 to build a lumber mill.

More in News

Milan Pohl of Port Angeles points out the features of a greenhouse he built to cover a portion of his plot at the Fifth Street Community Garden in Port Angeles. Pohl said on Friday that the greenhouse and a twin structure on an adjoining bed would be used to grow eggplant, peppers and other heat-loving plants. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Community garden plot

Milan Pohl of Port Angeles points out the features of a greenhouse… Continue reading

x
Nominations open for Community Service awards

Forms due March 25; event scheduled for May 1

Influenza numbers trending down in Clallam, Jefferson counties

Public health officer says it’s not too late for vaccine

NOAA lease in Port Angeles on list of terminations

A lease held by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric… Continue reading

Tyler Leisten.
Leisten gradutes from basic law enforcement academy

Tyler Leisten has graduated from the Washington State Basic… Continue reading

Nicole Merrigan, owner of Strait Up Foam Fun, left, talks with Carol Koenig of Sequim during Thursday’s Clallam County Job Fair at Vern Burton Community Center in Port Angeles. About two dozen prospective employers took part in the event, hosted by the Greater Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Job fair

Nicole Merrigan, owner of Strait Up Foam Fun, left, talks with Carol… Continue reading

Funding from the state Department of Commerce will be matched with private donations to fix the Upper Hoh Road this spring, Gov. Bob Ferguson said Thursday. (Olympic National Park)
State funds to repair Hoh Road

Private donations to match Commerce grant

Grant would help Port of Port Townsend with larger vessels

Two-phase project intended to increase efficiency

Port Angeles City Manager Nathan West gives his annual presentation on the state of the city on Wednesday to the Greater Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce at the Red Lion Hotel. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles’ efforts on housing, homelessness top annual address

Manager provides State of the City comments to chamber

Master Gardener Honey Niemann of Port Townsend trims a barberry bush on Wednesday to keep it from infringing on the daffodils blooming at Master Gardener Park at the corner of 10th Street and Sims Way in Port Townsend. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Signs of spring

Master Gardener Honey Niemann of Port Townsend trims a barberry bush on… Continue reading