Stabilization work on SR 4 slope starts today

Repairs to stabilize a slope above State Route 4 west of Cathlamet at milepost 25.5 will begin July 5, announced the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). Last January, a slide briefly closed the highway (milepost 25.5) while maintenance crews worked to clear debris. Since that time, engineers have evaluated the slope and determined that slope stabilization is necessary before next fall’s rain, to reduce the possibility of another slide at this location.

Through this project, crews will remove the loose, unstable soil and debris from the slope. They will then stabilize the slope by reinforcing it with rock placed at the lower portion of the slope.

Single lane closures with flaggers will remain as crews complete this work. Motorists should expect up to 20-minute delays.

Ostrander Rock and Construction, Inc. of Longview was selected as the contractor for this emergency repair project. Repairs are estimated to cost $200,000. This project is expected to be completed within 30 working days. The scheduled work is weather dependant.

This is one of several unstable slopes along SR 4 that have required emergency repair work this year. Three other SR 4 emergency projects have recently been completed; one near Rosburg in Wahkiakum County, another at milepost 53 in Cowlitz County, and most recently, repairs just west of Stella (milepost 50.9), also in Cowlitz County, were completed.

Other projects set for SR 4 this summer include:

• SR 4, Coal Creek to I-5, mileposts 55.1 to 58.7 - Paving and Safety: July 1-3, 5-6 intermittent daytime and nighttime single lane closure east and westbound on SR 4 for pavement repairs. Construction activities will conclude at 12 p.m. on July 3 and resume on July 5. The project will pave SR 4 from Coal Creek Slough Bridge to I-5. The paving route will head east through Longview along the Ocean Beach Highway, turning north at Washington Way onto Cowlitz Way, across the Peter Crawford Bridge, including the one way couplets on 4th and 5th in Kelso, then east on Allen St. under the I-5 crossing and ending at the intersection of Kelso Drive.

This section of SR 4 is in need of resurfacing due to severe rutting from heavy traffic, resulting in several areas of deteriorating pavement. Construction will begin in June 2007 and is scheduled for completion in the fall of this year.

• US 101, Astoria Bridge to SR 4 and SR 401 - Paving and Safety: July 2-3, 5-6, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., daytime single lane and shoulder closures for the duration of the project.

US 101 will be paved, beginning at the Astoria Bridge, proceeding northwest to Ilwaco, then northeast where it intersects with SR 4, SR 401 will be resurfaced in Pacific County. Additional improvements will be made to SR 4 in Wahkiakum County such as pavement resurfacing, guardrail and sign replacements where needed, and pavement work. The existing signal at the intersection of US 101 and SR 100 in Ilwaco will also be replaced. A new signal will be installed at the intersection of US Highway 101 and Sandridge Road.