Fix Dosewallips River Road, Jefferson commissioners ask federal officials

2005-09-20
by JEFF CHEW
Peninsula Daily News

PORT TOWNSEND -- Jefferson County commissioners on Monday called on federal forest and park leaders to quickly rebuild Dosewallips River Road, East Jefferson's only motor-vehicle route into Olympic Mountain recreational parklands.

The commissioners are forwarding their recommendations this week in a letter to Dale Hom, Olympic National Forest supervisor, and William G. Laitner, Olympic National Park superintendent.

Brinnon and Quilcene business owners and residents want the road rebuilt and reopened.

It has been closed since it was washed out by the swollen Dosewallips River in the 1990s.

``That property belongs to us [taxpayers] and we need a way to get to us,'' said County Commissioner Pat Rodgers, R-Brinnon, who lives not far from the road.

Rodgers later added: ``I feel strongly that we need to have access to that park.''

During their early morning briefing Monday at Jefferson County Courthouse, the commissioners, backed the so-called ``proposed action'' to re-establish access by rebuilding Forest Service Road 2610 at the washout area by using a low-water crossing design.

The narrow, single-lane road would be about 6,000 feet long, use a lower grade than the existing road -- about eight feet -- and curve close to the washout bank.

The road would be designed so it would be inundated by the Dosewallips River in the event of a moderate, 20-year flood.

``This section of road would provide seasonal access for passenger cars, recreational vehicles and vehicles pulling trailers,'' states the commissioners' letter.