Cowlitz County engineer outlines $142.5 million six‑year road program; 2026 projects largely funded

Cowlitz County Engineer Susan Eugene told county commissioners Thursday that the county’s six‑year transportation program for 2026–2031 lists roughly $142.5 million in potential projects, with the 2026 year alone estimated at about $23.8 million and nearly all 2026 funding secured.

Eugene said the county maintains 527 centerline miles of roads—about 70 miles (13%) in urban areas and the remainder in rural areas. The county has roughly five unpaved miles and more than 68 bridges; 37 bridges are 50 years or older and 13 carry load restrictions. The oldest bridge in the system is the Seattle Creek bridge on Old Highway 99 South, constructed in 1922.

The six‑year plan groups projects by phase (design, right‑of‑way, construction) and by funding source. For 2026 staff reported about $7.7 million in federal funding (roughly 52% of the year’s programmed funding), $3.8 million in state funding and approximately $12.3 million in local funding (including ARPA dollars) dedicated to projects such as South Cloverdale, Allender Road bridge replacement and a Dike Road reconstruction project.

Eugene stated the county will pursue multiple funding sources—federal Surface Transportation block grants (STP), Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), PROTECT funding, FEMA and FHWA emergency funds, state programs including the Brian Abbot Fish Barrier Removal Board and the upcoming CRAB local access road program—and local road fund balances used as matching dollars. She said the county typically has $1–2 million per year available from the local road fund for matches and local‑only projects.

Key near‑term projects discussed: - South Cloverdale Road: under construction; contractor work continuing into next year with an estimated remaining balance on the project. - Allender Road bridge: out to bid; project funding includes federal bridge dollars with a modest local match. - Dike Road reconstruction: large local dollar amount (staff cited approximately $3.4 million local plus $1.6 million in CRAB funding) and is currently awaiting a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 408 permit because utilities and permit coordination remain outstanding.

Eugene described common delivery delays—right‑of‑way holdouts, probate on private parcels, changes in environmental permitting requirements and utility coordination—that stretch projects from a planned two‑year schedule to multiple years. She said staff are hiring and expanding in‑house right‑of‑way and appraisal capacity to reduce reliance on consultants and shorten timelines where possible.

Eugene emphasized that beyond 2027 the program’s secured funding declines rapidly and that commissioners’ prioritization and continued pursuit of grants will shape which later projects move forward. She told the board the six‑year plan is required by the County Road Administration Board and WAC 136‑15 and is adopted as part of the county’s annual budget process.

No formal action was taken; the six‑year transportation program will be adopted with the budget in the coming weeks.