Projects in Progress & Recently Completed

Working for you - See what we're doing!                                                                                                               

Larry Scott Trail Project
Dowans Creek Road
East Quilcene Road
Paradise Bay Road Illumination & Prospect Avenue Right-Turn Lane
6th Avenue Improvement Project
S Discovery Road
Tower Creek Bridge
Upper Hoh Road Milepost 4.0
Upper Hoh Road Milepost 7.8
Jefferson County Courthouse Clock Tower
Donovan Creek Bridge
Other Ongoing Projects                                                                                Projects Completed in 2006
Projects Completed in 2005


S. Discovery Road Emergency Project

Saturated soils and high winds caused a landslide to occur along S. Discovery Rd at Mile Post 3.9 on Nov. 9, 2006.  Severe storms and landslides during the period of Nov. 2-11, 2006 that impacted Jefferson County and Washington State were declared a major disaster making the County eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding.

The initial slide adjacent to S. Discovery Rd was approximately 12 feet wide and within 3 feet of the roadway. Because it was unknown if the slide would deepen and extend into the road, JCPW placed concrete barriers along the south edge of the pavement and restricted traffic to the road lane furthest from the slide. For the duration of the repair, the road remained open to one lane of traffic with the use of temporary traffic signals placed at each end of the work zone.

Road repair began Nov 14 and was completed Nov 21, 2006. Approximately 700 feet of S. Discovery Rd was shifted away from the slide area – a new traffic lane was built in county right-of-way on the north side of the road. Road construction was completed by Seton Construction, Inc. and Lakeside Industries.

The total cost of the emergency project was approximately $83,000. Because the November 2006 storms were declared federal emergencies, FEMA will reimburse the county for the cost of road repair.

The county continues to explore funding options for completing more permanent repairs at this location.

 Click this link for pictures. 

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Tower Creek Bridge

On Nov. 5, 2006, heavy rainfall caused flooding in Tower Creek causing serious damage to Tower Creek Bridge. Tower Creek flows under the Upper Hoh Road at Mile Post 7.5 in the West End of Jefferson County. The high water flow damaged the Tower Creek Bridge abutment fills, weakening the bridge foundation and roadway approach.

Jefferson County Public Works restricted bridge traffic to one lane to minimize the load on the bridge and protect the public until the damage was repaired.  The repair work consisted of reconstructing the riprap abutment fill underneath the bridge on both sides and installing a sheet pile retaining wall behind the abutment on the southwest end of the bridge.

Construction was completed in January, 2007 by Rognlin’s Inc. of Aberdeen, WA and Bruch & Bruch Construction of Port Angeles, WA.  The total cost of the project was $160,000. The project will be paid for by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Emergency Relief Program since the road is a primary access route to Olympic National Park.

Click this link for pictures. 

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Upper Hoh Road Milepost 4.0

Near record flows of the Hoh River washed out the Upper Hoh Road embankment near milepost 4.0 beginning on Nov. 5, 2006.  The usual winter flow of the Hoh River is approximately 5,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) --- at one time during the November 2006 storms the flow increased to 58,000 cfs.

 JCPW responded immediately to the emergency to save the road.  Bruch and Bruch Construction of Port Angeles, WA was hired to construct a 400-foot long riprap revetment to protect the slope and replace the roadway embankment.  Large rock, 3ft-6ft diameter, was used to construct the base of the revetment. Smaller rock, 1.5ft-3ft diameter, was placed on top of the base.  The remainder of the slope extending up to roadway elevation will be constructed of reinforced soil and will be revegetated this spring. Project completion is scheduled for the spring of 2007.

 The total cost for this work is estimated at $250,000. Repairs will be funded by the Emergency Relief Program of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) since this roadway serves as the main access to Olympic National Park.

Click this link for pictures. 

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JEFFERSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE CLOCK TOWER

This National Historic Landmark and cornerstone of Port Townsend’s Victorian architecture has been a center of county government and community activity since 1892.

Routine inspections in 1998 noted deterioration of the un-reinforced masonry construction of the 124-foot Clock Tower. While assessment of the Tower concluded that the Tower was within acceptable standards of strength, it was also at risk from severe windstorms or earthquakes. The focus of rehabilitation was to the ‘high tower’ – that part of the Clock Tower above the Courthouse roof line most at risk.

After a thorough pre-design and design phase, rehabilitation of the Clock Tower began in May 2006.  High Tower rehabilitation included:

  §          Replacing five Clock Tower floors,

§          Reinforcing corner turrets,

§          Repairing/replacing sheet metal façade elements and high roof,

§          Rehabilitating brick and stone masonry,

§          Rehabilitating clock works, clock dials and bell, and

§          Replacing clock counter weight shafts.

The total cost of the project was just over $3 million. The success of this project was achieved through a team of highly skilled participants: the project architect, Architectural Resources Group of San Francisco; structural engineer,  Degenkolb Engineers of Seattle; general contractor, Drury Construction Company of Poulsbo; and, the  clock maker for clock and bell rehabilitation, William E  Sperry. 

The project was funded through County funds and the help of:

WA State Historic County Courthouse Rehabilitation Program                                 WA State Historical Society Heritage Grant Program                                            National Park Service, Save America’s Treasures                                           National Trust for Historic Preservation                                                               US Dept of Housing & Urban Development, Special Projects Initiative                      Port Townsend Main Street

For a current project update, click this link.
 

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DONOVAN CREEK BRIDGE

On January 10, 2007, the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (HCSEG) completed replacement of a drainage culvert under East Quilcene Rd with a 70-ft concrete bridge. The bridge is located at the head of Quilcene Bay, approximately ½ mile east of Center Rd. During construction of the permanent bridge, a temporary, single-lane bridge was installed for through traffic.

 The old, 60-in culvert under E. Quilcene Rd was an intermittent fish barrier on Donovan Creek when water was flowing at high velocities. Removal of the barrier will allow more natural estuary conditions to develop on the north side of the road. The estuary environment provides critical habitat for juvenile salmon.

 This was the 4^th project completed in five years through the partnership of HCSEG and Jefferson County Public Works. All funding for this $600,000 project was acquired by HCSEG through state and federal grants. The bridge was constructed by Wilson Construction of Port Angeles.

Click this link for pictures. 

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             Other Ongoing Projects
 

LARRY SCOTT MEMORIAL TRAIL / OLYMPIC DISCOVERY TRAIL

The Larry Scott Trail (LST) is an eight-mile section of the Olympic Discovery Trail in Jefferson County. The LST begins in the Port of Port Townsend and will end at the intersection of State Route 20 and Four Corners Road. This multi-purpose trail for walkers, bicyclists and commuters will also include a parallel horse trail for most of its length. In 2005, two important projects were completed:

1) The trail underpass at SR 20 that allows trail users to bypass a narrow highway bridge was paved. Approximately ¾-mile of new pavement was placed by Lakeside Industries and now lines the main trail and trail spurs that vary in width from 8 feet to 10 feet. Funding for this $80,000 project came through a partnership of local dollars and federal and state grants.

2) A ½-mile section of new trail was constructed through the Cape George Trailhead property by Leavitt Trucking of Port Townsend.  The new trail meanders through the forested property, traversing small valleys and ridges. The trail meets Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility guidelines for multipurpose trails. The project included funding from the Jefferson Trails Coalition and the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC).

The process of acquiring remaining right-of-way for the trail will begin in 2006 using funding supplied by the Federal Highway Administration Enhancement Program. The County is also seeking other funding sources for future trail construction.

The LST has many dedicated supporters that play an important role in trail planning and trail maintenance and construction. We value your partnership and thank you for your commitment. Supporters include:

Jefferson Trails Coalition                       
Peninsula Trails Coalition
Port Townsend Bicycle Association
Pacific Northwest Trail Association
Port Townsend Running Club
Buckhorn Range Chapter of the Backcountry Horsemen of Washington

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UPPER HOH ROAD PROTECTION MILEPOST 7.7

In December of 2004, high flows on the Hoh River severely eroded the river bank and washed out 500 feet of the Upper Hoh Road at milepost 7.7.  Jefferson County enlisted Bruch and Bruch Construction and Seton Construction to immediately begin armoring the bank with large rock while flows were still high in order to prevent further loss of the roadway.  Over a period of two weeks, the bank was stabilized with 12,000 tons of rock and the roadway temporarily rebuilt.  Jefferson County sought an emergency declaration, and ultimately the effort paid off when the Governor and then the Federal Highway Administration and Secretary of Transportation deemed the project eligible for full reimbursement using $350,000 of federal emergency funds. 

800 feet of roadway upstream of this repair remains at high risk for a washout.  Jefferson County has secured $1.5 million in additional funding from the Federal Highway Administration and the County Road Administration Board to protect this section.  A lengthy design and permitting process is anticipated in order to ensure adequate protection for fish habitat and other species.  Construction will occur in summer 2007 or 2008 depending on the time required for this process.

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PORT HADLOCK UGA SEWER PLAN

           www.porthadlocksewer.org

             Projects Completed in 2006

PARADISE BAY ROAD PROJECT PHASE 1

Conceptual Drawing 2.0MB PDF File

In 2005, the Paradise Bay Road design was enhanced to include Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS). CSS is a developing statewide and national trend that the Federal Highway Administration defines as “…a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach that involves all stakeholders to develop a transportation facility that fits its physical setting and preserves scenic, aesthetic, historic, and environmental resources, while maintaining safety and mobility.  CSS is an approach that considers the total context within which a transportation improvement project will exist.” Roadway features for this project include:

• Planted medians that also provide traffic calming,
• Pedestrian refuge areas at the new median,
• Installation of new crosswalks to access adjacent commercial development from surrounding residential areas and existing trails,
• Construction of two bus pull-outs along the road for Jefferson Transit,
• New asphalt overlay,
• New storm drain structures,
• 5-foot wide paved shoulders, and
• Roadway and pedestrian lighting will be added to the project when funding becomes available. 

Seton Construction of Port Townsend was the successful bidder on the project, which was substantially completed in September 2006.  The project was partially funded through a $500,000 competitive State grant secured through the County Road Administration Board, Rural Arterial Program.
 

LARRY SCOTT TRAIL EMERGENCY REPAIRS

High winds and tide in February 2006 combined to damage a ½-mile section of the Larry Scott Trail along the waterfront as well as other waterfront facilities around eastern Jefferson County.  The County enlisted the help of Leavitt Trucking of Port Townsend to immediately undertake trail repairs.  Funding for repair of this important non-motorized transportation and recreational facility came from the local Road Fund.  The County is attempting to secure reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at this time since the storm was later declared a federal emergency by the President.

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             Projects Completed in 2005

BRIDGE ON OLD TARBOO ROAD

In a collaborative effort with the Northwest Watershed Institute, the County’s second highest priority fish-passage barrier was corrected by construction of a new bridge across Tarboo Creek. The 40-ft long, 16-ft wide bridge replaced an old, rusted culvert on Old Tarboo Road at milepost 0.88. The old culvert had been classified as a partial barrier to more than five miles of upstream habitat by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife; this habitat is now more accessible to juvenile and adult fish.

The total project cost was $165,000, with funding provided through grants from the NOAA Fisheries Community Restoration Program, the Fish America Foundation, and Jefferson County. The project was managed by our partners at the Northwest Watershed Institute and constructed by McConnell Construction of Port Townsend.

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SHINE CREEK BRIDGE ON SOUTH POINT ROAD

Jefferson County teamed up with the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (HCSEG) again in 2005 to remove a flow restriction to the 3,300 acre watershed of Shine Creek and revitalize 77 acres of estuary. Three culverts under South Point Road at milepost 0.26 were removed and replaced with a 70-ft long bridge over Shine Creek. Removing the culverts restored connectivity between the upper and lower Shine Creek Estuary. The estuary and creek systems provide important habitat for several species of salmon smolts as well as steelhead and cutthroat trout.

The majority of funding for this $450,000 project was provided by a Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB) grant secured by the HCSEG. Matching funds were provided by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. This is the 3^rd project completed in 5 years through the collaborative efforts of Jefferson County Public Works and the HCSEG.  Other projects completed with HCSEG include culvert replacements for Tarboo Creek under Dabob Road and Center Road.  All projects were completed by local contractors.

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CLEARWATER ROAD MILEPOST 0.50 

High flows on the Queets River in January 2005 threatened to erode the abutment fills for the 850-ft long Queets/Clearwater Bridge on Jefferson County’s Clearwater Road.  Jefferson County had Northwest Rock of Aberdeen, WA armor approximately 700 feet of river bank with large rock to halt the erosion process before further damage could occur to the roadway and bridge.

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SOUTH SHORE QUINAULT ROAD EMERGENCY REPAIR

During a high flow event between Dec. 24 and Dec. 25, 2005, the Quinault River shifted east and washed out a portion of the South Shore Quinault Road at milepost 0.6. Jefferson County staff was monitoring the site through the holiday weekend and responded immediately to the road damage.

The road was restricted to one lane on Dec. 26th. On Dec. 27th, a contractor was mobilized to the site. Reconstruction of 225 feet of the roadway through installation of a riprap bank protection structure was completed on Jan. 4, 2006. The total cost of this project is estimated at $154,000. Jefferson County is seeking state and federal emergency funding assistance for this project.

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