Webmaster
05-06-2007, 08:01 AM
By Lauren Vane
Times Southeast Bureau
Drivers who travel state Route 410 between Enumclaw and Mount Rainier National Park are familiar with its troubles. The road snakes alongside the fast-moving White River and has been closed many times because of flooding.
For years the river has eaten away at the road. Now officials aim to fix several trouble spots. Representatives from the state Department of Transportation unveiled their plan Monday at a public meeting in Enumclaw.
"Anytime you have flooding over the roadway, you have a safety problem," said David Edwards, state Route 410 project manager for the state Department of Transportation.
The road, known as the Chinook Scenic Byway, is the western portal to Mount Rainier National Park and the popular Crystal Mountain ski area.
The road sees an average of 2,500 vehicles a day, highest in summer and during ski season, Edwards said.
As visitors travel to the mountains, the Route 410 brings millions through the city of Enumclaw. When the road is blocked off, it takes a toll on local tourism, Enumclaw Mayor John Wise said.
"For us, it's a critical piece of our tourism plan," Wise said.
In recent years, crews have made emergency and spot-maintenance repairs after several significant floods battered the road.
In the mid 1990s, the road nearly washed away in the area of Federation Forest State Park, Edwards said.
Flooding has plagued a section of the road near the boundary of Mount Rainier National Park on and off for the past five years, and as recently as November, water covered the road near the turnoff to Crystal Mountain.
An environmental-consulting firm surveyed the road and river to identify trouble spots in need of repair. Nine areas were identified, but for now, officials are focusing four of them.
The remaining trouble spots will be handled with routine maintenance, Edwards said.
Enumclaw resident Ed Wilson voiced concern at the public meeting that any fixes made to the road be long-term solutions.
"I have a problem with three 100-year floods in 15 years," Wilson said.
In 20 years as a park ranger at Mount Rainier, Wilson drove 410 from Enumclaw into the national park about five days a week.
The state Department of Transportation hasn't decided exactly how each of the four problem areas will be mended. Elevating the road, building a logjam or installing a dike are among the solutions to be considered.
More information will be presented at a second public meeting in Enumclaw this summer.
The $16.8 million project could start construction in summer 2009 and finish in two years, Edwards said.
source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/southeastkingcountynews/2003694875_roadfixes06s.html
Times Southeast Bureau
Drivers who travel state Route 410 between Enumclaw and Mount Rainier National Park are familiar with its troubles. The road snakes alongside the fast-moving White River and has been closed many times because of flooding.
For years the river has eaten away at the road. Now officials aim to fix several trouble spots. Representatives from the state Department of Transportation unveiled their plan Monday at a public meeting in Enumclaw.
"Anytime you have flooding over the roadway, you have a safety problem," said David Edwards, state Route 410 project manager for the state Department of Transportation.
The road, known as the Chinook Scenic Byway, is the western portal to Mount Rainier National Park and the popular Crystal Mountain ski area.
The road sees an average of 2,500 vehicles a day, highest in summer and during ski season, Edwards said.
As visitors travel to the mountains, the Route 410 brings millions through the city of Enumclaw. When the road is blocked off, it takes a toll on local tourism, Enumclaw Mayor John Wise said.
"For us, it's a critical piece of our tourism plan," Wise said.
In recent years, crews have made emergency and spot-maintenance repairs after several significant floods battered the road.
In the mid 1990s, the road nearly washed away in the area of Federation Forest State Park, Edwards said.
Flooding has plagued a section of the road near the boundary of Mount Rainier National Park on and off for the past five years, and as recently as November, water covered the road near the turnoff to Crystal Mountain.
An environmental-consulting firm surveyed the road and river to identify trouble spots in need of repair. Nine areas were identified, but for now, officials are focusing four of them.
The remaining trouble spots will be handled with routine maintenance, Edwards said.
Enumclaw resident Ed Wilson voiced concern at the public meeting that any fixes made to the road be long-term solutions.
"I have a problem with three 100-year floods in 15 years," Wilson said.
In 20 years as a park ranger at Mount Rainier, Wilson drove 410 from Enumclaw into the national park about five days a week.
The state Department of Transportation hasn't decided exactly how each of the four problem areas will be mended. Elevating the road, building a logjam or installing a dike are among the solutions to be considered.
More information will be presented at a second public meeting in Enumclaw this summer.
The $16.8 million project could start construction in summer 2009 and finish in two years, Edwards said.
source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/southeastkingcountynews/2003694875_roadfixes06s.html