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Cowlitz County public works seeks BRIC funding, recommends awarding low bid for Toutle/Burma Road bypass
Summary
County engineers told commissioners they will apply for a BRIC grant to study flood-alternative options on Westover and Lamar and recommended awarding the low bidder ($1,234,000) on the Toutle/Burma Road bypass to keep the project on schedule; a countywide striping contract was also listed on consent.
Cowlitz County public-works staff told the Board of Commissioners they plan to apply for federal BRIC funding to study flood alternatives and recommended awarding a low bid on a major road project after a competitive bidding process.
County engineer Eugenis briefed the board on a consent-agenda contract with Construction Ahead, Inc., doing business as Pavement Surfacing Control, for the countywide 2026 striping project, a two-year contract that staff said had been awarded June 2. The transcript did not provide a clear total dollar figure for that contract.
Eugenis also described a resolution to designate applicant representatives for a Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant application to study alternatives for flooding on Westover and Lamar. "This is, will be a pass through from the state for FEMA if we're successful," he said, and noted the county had been encouraged to reapply after narrowly missing an award in the prior cycle.
Public works opened bids for the Toutle/Burma Road bypass project and received 11 bidders. Staff reported the low bid at $1,234,000 — below the engineer's estimate — and asked the board to award the contract the following morning to keep the project moving and complete work before winter conditions affect the schedule.
The department previewed a public hearing to establish a new roadway alignment off the end of Burma Road, describing driveway reattachments, relocation of a gun-range gate, and leaving a central section in gravel because geotechnical work forecasts settlement of 6 inches to 1 foot; staff said paving that section could be reconsidered during next year's overlay depending on observed settlement.
The board did not record a formal vote on the BRIC application or the Toutle/Burma award in the transcript excerpt, but staff indicated a recommendation to proceed with both items at the next day's meeting.
