Cowlitz County schedules March bid for failing Garlock Road culvert; project 85% funded by fish-passage program

Cowlitz County staff told commissioners the Garlock Road culvert is failing and that the county plans to advertise the replacement for bid in March; staff said the project is approximately 85% funded by fish-passage funding.

During the discussion a staff member on the phone confirmed, "We're looking at a March bid. We did not do a traffic count out there. It is a failing culvert and the project is 85% funded by a fish barrier passage move," and later explained that a "failing culvert" generally means the structure has holes (if metal) or spalling (if concrete) or has become undersized.

Commissioners asked for the engineer’s estimate and a traffic count; staff said the engineer’s estimate was not available at the meeting and that they would follow up with the requested cost information. A commissioner noted interest in whether repairs rather than full replacement might be appropriate in some cases and suggested follow-up conversations with the Department of Ecology and wildlife representatives on fish-habitat questions.

No formal vote on the Garlock Road project was recorded at this meeting; it was discussed as an item in the consent discussion and flagged for further information prior to bidding.

Staff next steps: provide commissioners the engineer’s cost estimate and any traffic-count data prior to the March bid, and coordinate follow-up briefings with Ecology and wildlife staff as requested by commissioners.