Skagit County proclaims National Public Works Week; department outlines bridge, ferry and road projects

Skagit County Public Works outlined ongoing and planned infrastructure work on May 13 and the Board of County Commissioners voted to proclaim May 18 through May 24, 2025, as National Public Works Week.

Public Works Director Michael C. told commissioners the department employs 146 people across seven divisions, manages more than 800 miles of county roads and a county budget for public works of about $52,000,000 a year. "Public works is really unique ... and definitely the best department at Skagit County," Michael C. said during a roughly 20-minute presentation highlighting maintenance, bridges, culvert replacements and the county's ferry operation.

The presentation listed recent and upcoming projects: a repaired bridge deck on the Joe Littery Bridge, replacement of a culvert that was blocking salmon passage with a bridge completed in October, an asphalt overlay on about 2 miles of Old Highway 9, rehabilitation works on Marble Mount Bridge across the Skagit River, and a 140-foot bridge replacing an historic 8-foot culvert at Cedardale/Starbird Road to improve fish passage. Michael C. also described divisions that handle engineering, equipment maintenance, the Guemes Island ferry, natural resources, operations and solid waste.

On road surfacing, the department showed its chip-seal process and confirmed it now applies a fog-seal layer on all chip-sealed roads to lock in aggregate and extend pavement life. "We fog seal with every road now," a road supervisor said during the briefing; Michael C. confirmed supervisors prefer the treatment even though it is more expensive.

Michael C. described the Guemes ferry as carrying up to 21 vehicles and 99 passengers, operating year-round, and transporting about 200,000 vehicles and 400,000 passengers annually. He said the ferry was in dry dock at the time of the meeting and that the county is transitioning to online ticketing for passenger and later vehicle reservations.

The presentation also noted services housed in Public Works: a fleet shop that keeps sheriff vehicles and county equipment running, a solid waste program that operates transfer stations and household hazardous waste drop-off, and a natural resources team that manages water, farm legacy and fish-passage projects while maintaining compliance with NPDES stormwater requirements.

Commissioners thanked staff for round-the-clock work during floods and other emergencies and for grant-seeking efforts that supplement county funds. The county noted much project funding is grant-based and requires matching funds and grant administration.

The commission moved and seconded a proclamation designating May 18–24, 2025, as National Public Works Week; the motion carried 2–0. The proclamation text cited the department's 146 employees, management of over 800 miles of road, 113 bridges, approximately 1,072 culverts, 7,000 stormwater assets, about 350 pieces of equipment, three transfer stations and the county ferry.

Commissioners said they plan to continue public outreach during National Public Works Week and encouraged residents to thank public works employees and report road or sign problems to help maintenance response.