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Clallam County to Seek Federal Design Funds for Olympic Discovery Trail Bridge Segment
Summary
Public works asked commissioners to amend its Surface Transportation Block Grant programming to move $373,658 of [$8.25 million] from construction to design for a bridge segment of the Olympic Discovery Trail; board set consideration for a May 13 hearing.
Clallam County public works staff asked the Board of County Commissioners on Monday to reallocate federal surface transportation funds to cover design work for a complex bridge segment of the Olympic Discovery Trail.
Public works said one of the projects programmed under the county's Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) program is the Olympic Discovery Trail segment that includes a bridge over the Clallam-area river and connections west toward Forks and Lake Crescent. Staff requested the board amend resolution 36-2024 to reallocate $373,658 of the existing $8.25 million program to the design phase so the county can hire a consultant team and complete geotechnical, stormwater and permitting work prior to construction.
Public works described the segment as more complex than initially estimated because of bridge abutment design, geotechnical needs, stormwater management and environmental permitting involving multiple agencies. The presenter said the county conducted a qualifications process last year with four consultant teams and selected one; federal funds already identified include Transportation Alternatives programming.
A public-works speaker told commissioners the request is a reallocation from construction to design and does not remove funding from other projects the board programmed in 2024. "We'd like to reallocate 373,658 of the $8.25... to the design phase," the presenter said. (Speaker: Public works presenter.)
Commissioners asked about likely total construction costs and potential funding sources to close the construction gap. Staff said the earlier total estimate for the bridge and trail was about $1.5 million but that the bridge component will likely exceed that and additional federal competitive grants (including RAISE and other programs) or state funds would be needed for construction. Staff also noted one state recreation grant would be ineligible because the trail segment allows off-road vehicle (ORV) use.
The board set consideration of the resolution and public hearing for May 13; staff said the reallocation would allow design work to proceed so the project can be shovel-ready for future construction funding.
