Cowlitz County outlines $24.4 million in 2026 projects in updated six‑year road plan
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Summary
County engineer presented the 2026–2031 six‑year transportation program and the 2026 annual construction program, identifying major projects (South Cloverdale intersection, Allender Road bridge replacement, Dyke Road reconstruction, Rock Creek bridge) and a mix of federal, state and local funding.
In a presentation to the Board of Commissioners, County Engineer Susan Eugenis detailed Cowlitz County’s 2026–2031 six‑year Transportation Improvement Program and the related 2026 annual construction program.
Eugenis said the county maintains 69 county bridges (37 are more than 50 years old) and uses a priority array for both arterial collectors and culverts to score projects by risk factors including accidents, average daily traffic and flooding impacts. Staff presented 2026 anticipated projects totaling roughly $24.4 million in planned work, and a six‑year program funded in part with an estimated $77.4 million federal, $30.7 million state and $43.8 million local dollars across the six years.
Major 2026 projects highlighted: - South Cloverdale Road / Confer Road intersection improvements and South Cloverdale construction (combined project already under construction; federal/state/local funds; total > $7 million). - Allender Road bridge replacement (fully funded up to $2 million with federal bridge funds; temporary bridge planned during construction). - Dyke Road reconstruction phase 2 (~$5 million; pending U.S. Army Corps permit after federal shutdown delays). - Rock Creek culvert/bridge replacement (estimated ~$4 million; bidding planned for January).
Eugenis also outlined maintenance budgets for 2026: chip seal $3.0 million, overlays $1.8 million and striping $650,000, and noted several smaller slide and culvert projects totaling over $2.0 million. She explained the first year of the six‑year program is fiscally constrained; the second year is largely constrained; later years include projects with funding yet to be secured.
Commissioners and members of the public asked about project prioritization, connectivity of new development roads, FEMA‑funded temporary bridges and permitting timelines for Corps approvals. Eugenis said staff will hold a public meeting in February on a transportation system plan to address connectivity and that some projects were scaled to meet available local matching funds.
The board subsequently approved the formal resolution adopting the six‑year transportation improvement program and the annual construction program.