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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
Lewis County and the U. S. Army corps of Engineers (USCOE) had been expected to partner with WSDOT in funding this project. In September 2004, the USCOE advised WSDOT that Congress had not authorized funding for this project. As a result WSDOT defered $500,000 of perliminary engineering funds from the 03-05 biennium to the 05-07 biennium. Since then Lewis County has had their consultant sign a addendum which has PIE continuing to analysis the Skookumchuck River Dam, and writting a report detailing the work accomplished on the final design plans and specifications. The addendum also has PIE evaluating the levee locations through out the basin as well as determining what changes removing the Mellon Street Bridge would have on 100-year flood elevation in the Airport Road Levee vicinity.
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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
The Chiefs report was signed on Sept. 27, 2004
The Lewis County / PIE River Mile 66 Habitat Enhancement Project has encountered significant resistance from the Chehalis Tribe and as such the RM 66 project may be cancelled. 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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