HomeMy WebLinkAbout100826 - Press Release_ Quinault South Shore Road Re-Opens October 8_ 2026Good morning,
Jefferson County and partnering agencies have announced the re-opening of the Quinault South Shore Road for October 8, 2026, following critical repairs that have kept the road inaccessible
for nearly two years.
The Quinault South Shore Road washed out in late winter 2024 due to high river flows that scoured the road embankment. Since that time, the road has remained closed while Jefferson County
sought funding authorization and permits for this Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief (FHWA ER) eligible repair. Access beyond the washout was only possible in the summer
via a long detour on the North Shore Road. In winter, there was no public road access to the areas beyond the washout. The washout also prevented use of the scenic loop road, a primary
tourist attraction for the region.
In early September 2026, following nearly two years of significant effort on the part of Jefferson County Public Works, and with the support of the Quinault Indian Nation (QIN) and others,
the FHWA and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) authorized use of funding to repair this site. The repair was completed by Roglin’s, Inc. from Aberdeen, WA for
their bid of $325,000.
Eric Kuzma, Jefferson County Public Works Director, is “relieved that the funding was finally authorized for this vital regional project. He notes that, “It has been almost two years
of our staff and stakeholders collaborating to find a solution, so I am grateful for everyone who stayed committed to seeing this project through to the finish line.”
The repair will require after-the-fact environmental permitting and mitigation that will be funded by the FHWA ER program at 86.5%, versus the emergency repair which was funded at 100%.
To see this press release on our website, visit: Quinault South Shore Road Re-Opens October 8, 2026 • Jefferson County, WA <https://co.jefferson.wa.us/m/newsflash/home/detail/1799>
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Thank you,
Liz Anderson
Communications Specialist
Jefferson County
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