August 15, 2011

Federal Grant Will Fund Upgrade to Upper Hoh Road

WASHINGTON, D.C., Aug. 15 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation has approved a $3.425 million grant for repairs to the Upper Hoh Road, which provides access to the Olympic National Park’s Hoh Rain Forest, U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks said Monday.

The road suffers from occasional overflows of the Hoh River in Jefferson County, which can block access to the Park.  The grant, issued through the Department’s Public Lands Highways Discretionary program, will repair overflow damage to a culvert at milepost 3.338 along the road.  It will pay for the installation of a bridge to assure fish passage and stabilize the roadway, preserving park access, Rep. Dicks said.

The repairs are consistent with a memorandum of agreement signed by Jefferson County, Olympic National Park as well as the state and federal Departments of Transportation, designed to assure that the road is maintained and safe park access continues.  The congressman also noted the environmental aspects of the project, saying that it will keep the roadway from washing into the river, which is a major salmon and steelhead producing stream.

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