HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter re: Financial Report for the Quinault South Shore Road Repair to RR - 051225 roCo,�Mjssr Board of County Commissioners
°G O 1820 Jefferson Street
o ; PO Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
QS ,�O Heather Dudley-Nollette,District 1 Heidi Eisenhour,District 2 Greg Brotherton,District 3
SII NG
May 12, 2025
Ralph Rizzo, Division Administrator
FHWA Washington Division
711 Capital Way S., Suite 501
Olympia, WA 98501-1284
SUBJECT: Request for Financial Support for the Quinault South Shore Road Emergency Repair
Dear Mr. Rizzo,
We write today to jointly request FHWA Emergency Relief(ER) funding for Jefferson County's
Quinault South Shore Road at milepost 1.3. A sizable section of the road washed out as the result
of a significant storm in late 2024. A Detailed Damage Inspection Report was submitted to
WSDOT/FHWA shortly after the event but we have yet to receive a funding determination.Minor
erosion has continued since the initial washout with both road lanes now gone and a washout that
measures approximately 125 feet by 40 feet. A photo of the washout is attached.
This was the second of two washouts that occurred as the result of the same storm in Jefferson
County late last year, the other being on the Upper Hoh Road, milepost 9.9. The Upper Hoh Road
has since been repaired using funds committed by Governor Ferguson, together with local
residents and businesses. To date we have seen minimal federal and state interest in repairing this
FHWA ER eligible road, which primarily provides access to the Olympic National Park.
Unfortunately, Jefferson and Grays Harbor counties, both being distressed rural counties, simply
do not have the resources to complete this repair without federal or state aid.
Olympic National Park reported approximately 334,000 visits to the Quinault area of the park in
2024. The Quinault South Shore Road together with the North Shore Road complete a loop that is
a very popular tourist destination and a key economic driver within the region. The western ends
of Jefferson and Grays Harbor Counties are very rural. Local businesses depend on those tourism
dollars to offer services, pay their staff, and keep the local economy thriving. Families depend
upon these tourism sector jobs as their primary source of income.
Phone (360)385-9100 jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us
Given that the Quinault area of the Olympic National Park is only accessible from the North and
South Shore roads, the situation caused by the current washout/road closure will be greatly
exacerbated this summer when Olympic National Park closes the North Shore Road for a large
Western Federal Lands' Road repair project. During that closure there will be no access to the
Olympic National Park Quinault area. A map showing the locations of the Quinault South Shore
Road washout and the Olympic National Park North Shore Road closure is attached.
We urge you to authorize the emergency funding for this important repair. We estimate the cost of
the repair to be about $554,000. With funding committed, Jefferson County could promptly
complete the road repair and prevent a prolonged closure that will be harmful to our local
communities.
Sincerely,
JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Ae 4(4:
Heather Dudley-Nollette Heidi Eisenhour Greg Brotherton
District 1 District 2, Chair District 3
GRAYS HARBOR BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Georgia Miller Rick Hole Vickie Raines
District I District 2 District 3
Cc: Megan Cotton,Senior Policy Advisor,Office of the Governor
The Honorable Maria Cantwell,United States Senator
The Honorable Patty Murray, United States Senator
The Honorable Emily Randall, United States Representative
Senator Mike Chapman,State District 24
Representative Adam Bernbaum,State District 24
Representative Steve Tharinger,State District 24
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