By Brian Mittge, The Chronicle, 11/20/2001
Money that cannot be spent this year on studies for two new Interstate 5 interchanges in Lewis County will instead be spent on studies for flood control projects in the Chehalis basin.
As approved by the county commission Monday morning, $800,000 will go toward the county match of a million federal dollars devoted to preparation for Twin Cities and basin-wide flooding and ecosystem restoration.
''We just got another million dollars. It's on the President's desk to be signed. Unless we can match we don't get the fed's share,'' said Commissioner Richard Graham.
He hopes the money will move the flood control project toward the construction or preconstruction stage.
A half million dollars will go toward hydrology and hydraulic studies, engineering and design analysis and geotechnical studies.
Nearly $200,000 is earmarked for real estate analysis.
Just under $100,000 will pay for environmental studies, cost estimates and other management costs.
The money originally was set aside by the Washington Department of Transportation to pay for studies of the north county and Labree Road freeway interchanges.
When the Legislature couldn't agree on a transportation package this year, however, the money had to be used for something else, Graham said.
Brian Mittge covers local government for The Chronicle. He may be reached by e-mail at bmittge@chronline.com, or by telephoning 807-8237.
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