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Granite Construction offers overlay as SEPA mitigation; county, diking district agree truck limits during high water
Summary
County staff described a proposed SEPA mitigation package from Granite Construction to overlay a vulnerable section of Dike Road and a diking-district agreement to restrict truck traffic when water levels threaten the dike.
Cowlitz County staff reported that Granite Construction has proposed an asphalt overlay of a section of Dike Road as part of SEPA mitigation for a project in Woodland, and that the county and the local diking district negotiated a condition to limit heavy-truck access during high-water events.
Susan Genes, county engineer, said she and staff met with Granite and the diking district to address county concerns that road segments between the county project terminus and the Dike access would deteriorate under heavy hauling. “Granite being an asphalt company said, well, what if we go out and we overlay that section for the county as part of our SEPA mitigation?” Genes said.
Why it matters: the roadway sits on a dike that can experience saturation during high water. The diking district agreed to post and restrict truck traffic when water levels—using the district's historical elevation threshold—remain high for more than 24 hours, and Granite accepted that condition. County staff said the overlay would be delivered by Granite while the county would still retain road maintenance responsibility.
Key technical points: Genes described a pumping action in the road base when saturated; she said the diking district is beginning a study of the dike foundation to assess needed reinforcement. She clarified the diking district is responsible for dike maintenance; the county is responsible for the roadway that sits on top of the dike and holds a waiver to operate and maintain the road there.
Board direction: Genes asked the board whether the county should enter an agreement with Granite with overlay and the diking-district posting condition; commissioners indicated support for pursuing the agreement and directed staff to proceed. Genes said the overlay would be provided as SEPA mitigation and that restrictions would apply during high-water events so heavy hauling would be limited when the dike is saturated.
Next steps: staff will prepare the agreement with Granite and coordinate the diking-district truck-posting procedure; the diking district will continue its dike-foundation study to determine long-term reinforcement needs.
