Almota Four road work held off for year

The Almota Four road reconstruction project set for the summer of 2019 was delayed completely for a year after a series of setbacks, mainly eight months in negotiating right-of-way payments to landowners along the 3.5-mile stretch. The project is set to widen Almota Road from Union Flat Creek to the intersection of State Route 194 near Onecho Bible Church.

Acquiring right-of-way meant the county made payments to 12 landowners’ groups to use some private ground along the roadside.

Delays were also attributed to code changes that required the county to hire a consultant.

The changes come from WSDOT (Washington State Department of Transportation) interpreting Federal Highway department audits of local agencies to make sure laws are being followed.

Almota Four is part of a four-phase, 12-mile reconstruction begun in 2009.