On Thursday, WSDOT contractors will begin a 30-day emergency contract for slope stabilization, culvert installation and rebuilding of the roadway
COUGAR – Following a culvert failure and washout on State Route 503, also called Lewis River Road, work to reestablish two-lane access will begin today.
On Thursday, Dec. 14, contractors working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will begin a 30-day emergency contract for slope stabilization, culvert installation and rebuilding of the roadway near Cougar in Cowlitz County.
What to expect
- Beginning Dec. 14, travelers may experience intermittent delays through the work zone of up to 20 minutes. People should plan for extra travel time, slow down through the work zone and look for flaggers.
- Freight restrictions will remain in place until the two-lane roadway has been restored.
“We recognize that SR 503 Spur is the primary roadway, and depending on the season, the only way in and out of Cougar,” said WSDOT Assistant Regional Administrator for Development and Delivery Devin Reck. “Reestablishing a safe and reliable connection for all roadway users is our top priority.”
On Tuesday, Dec. 5, WSDOT crews closed both directions of SR 503 Spur at milepost 35.7 due to a culvert failure from overwhelming rainfall. Later that afternoon, the eastbound lane of the highway eroded and washed away. On Thursday, Dec. 7, one lane was reopened at this location allowing traffic to alternate in each direction, with truck traffic prohibited to prevent further damage to the roadway. Maintenance crews have been working at the washout location around the clock since the culvert failure occurred to monitor water levels and roadway erosion.
WSDOT does not have a timeline for when during the 30-day contract the two-lane roadway will be fully restored. To receive future updates regarding reopening of the SR503 Spur to two lanes of traffic and freight restrictions lifted, subscribe to WSDOT travel notifications, Cowlitz County email list.
This 30-day emergency contract work is being done by NW Construction General Contracting Inc.
Travelers can get the latest traffic details by visiting WSDOT’s travel page or by downloading the WSDOT mobile app.
Also read:
- Opinion: ‘If they want light rail, they should be the ones who pay for it’
Clark County Today Editor Ken Vance argues that supporters of light rail tied to the I-5 Bridge replacement should bear the local cost of operating and maintaining the system through a narrowly drawn sub-district. - Opinion: IBR falsely blaming inflation
Joe Cortright argues that inflation explains only a small portion of the IBR project’s cost increases and that rising consultant and staff expenses are the primary drivers. - Letter: The Interstate Bridge Replacement Program’s $141 million bribe can be better spent on sandwich steel-concrete tubes
Bob Ortblad argues that an immersed tunnel using sandwich steel-concrete tubes would be a more cost-effective alternative to the current Interstate Bridge Replacement Program design. - A sub-district vote could be a way to go to pay O&M costs associated with light rail
Clark County Council members heard details on how a voter-approved C-TRAN sub-district could be created to fund long-term operations and maintenance costs for light rail tied to a new Interstate Bridge. - Letter: British Columbia’s new immersed tunnel can solve Interstate Bridge Replacement Program’s $17.7 billion problem
Bob Ortblad argues that an immersed tunnel similar to a project underway in British Columbia could significantly reduce costs and impacts associated with the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program.
