Project goals:

• Apply chip seal on 5.5 miles of Northeast Sunset Falls Road from Northeast Dole Valley Road to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

• Re-stripe lanes and shoulders.

• Replace weathered signs.

• Install raised pavement markings.

• Evaluate curve advisory speeds and adjust if needed.

The project area includes 5.5 miles of Northeast Sunset Falls Road, starting at Northeast Dole Valley Road and ending at the county border, within the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest.

Click here to view a map of the project area.

The local access road, FCC 09, was rebuilt in 2015, and included culvert replacements, safety improvements, and signing and striping. Since 2015, the roadway has been deteriorating due to heavy use. The surface shows signs of weathering and cracking. The average daily traffic in 2020 was 1,145 vehicles (23% trucks). A safety evaluation identified four collisions in five years. All collisions were fixed-object collisions. A chip seal applied to the roadway surface will prevent water infiltration and further deterioration of the roadway. A properly maintained surface is important for safety.

Access to Gifford-Pinchot National Forest and Sunset Falls Campground is anticipated to remain open during construction, with minor delays. Construction will occur on summer weekdays over the course of two project phases, one for application of the chip seal and a second for applying road striping. Construction will require traffic controls and flagging to manage traffic moving through the work zones.