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Project Title & Location
I-5/Chehalis River Flood Control
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Project Description
This project is a partnership with Lewis County to reduce flood impacts to I-5 and the Chehalis River Basin by raising and widening Airport Way, a frontage road on the west side of I-5.
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Contractor/Consultant
Project not yet advertised or awarded.
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Recent Progress
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) Chief's Report, which defines the project's scope, schedule and budget, has been signed and will be submitted to Congress. At this time, the USACE does not have funding appropriated for construction or engineering review. The USACE, Lewis County and WSDOT are preparing agreements to allow WSDOT to fund critical USACE work in order to keep the project moving forward.
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Design Construction Impacts
The USACE has indicated that, as a stand-alone project, the proposed dam modifications project would likely have no benefits for I-5, either in cost savings or reduced traffic delay. Further hydraulic modeling has been requested. Without direct benefits to the highway system WSDOT will not be able to contribute any "Nickel" gas tax money to this portion of the flood control project.
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Environmental Impacts / Compliance
Next critical task is the issuance of the USACE Chief’s Report to Congress. This includes the dam modification and levees.
Lewis County is pushing the RM 66 Habitat Enhancement (also known as Flood Way Bypass) as a major component of the project. The USACE has stated they oppose this component and they did not include it in the GRR or FEIS.
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Impacts to Traffic
None at this time.
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