The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) plans to complete two construction projects this year on SR 4 at Cathlamet and SR 401 in the Knappton area.

Heavy rainfall in January, 2021, led to a slide on SR 401 about 4.5 miles from the Megler/Astoria bridge that closed the road until crews were able to open a one-lane bypass in which a stoplight manages traffic flow. Since then WSDOT engineers have studied the geology of the area and developed a design to stabilize the slope.

"This project is scheduled to go to competitive bidding in summer, 2022," Celeste Dimichina

WSDOT Southwest Communications & Media Relations staff member reported Monday.

"Once we have a contractor on board, they will begin work to excavate and backfill a 200-foot section of SR 401 to repair severe cracking and a vertical offset caused by a landslide. Improvements to the drainage system will also be made to minimize the chances of another slide occurring in that area.

"Secondary to this main project, the Knappton Boat Launch to the south will be re-graded and have one of the vandalized signs replaced."

Installation of crosswalk striping will complete a project that involved a chip seal coating of SR 4 from Skamokawa to the Coal Creek Road intersection.

Consecutive days of warm, dry weather are needed for application of crosswalk striping, Dimichina said.

"Because striping work also requires single-lane closures, once our crews know they'll have several consecutive days of dry, warm weather, we'll send out notifications notifying everyone to expect delays through the area for said striping work," she said.

Also when completed, the speed limit through the Cathlamet area will drop from 45 to 35 miles per hour.

Planned improvements include:

Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons and crosswalk system at Jacobson Road intersection;

Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons and crosswalk system at Boege Road/Columbia Street intersection;

Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons and crosswalk system at the intersection of Wahkiakum High School Road and SR 4;

Lowering the speed limit to 35 mph from Una Ave to one-quarter mile past Columbia Street;

New school zone beacons will be installed at the intersection of Wahkiakum High School Road and SR 4, and

Radar feedback signs will be installed at new speed limit locations.