Woodland approves $500,000 construction for road overlay and pedestrian access wide

Woodland residents can soon expect partial lane closures on South Pekin Road as crews repair several cracks that have created safety concerns.

In its Monday, July 15 meeting, Woodland’s City Council approved a $561,795 contract with Granite Construction Company to improve South Pekin Road.

Bordering the west side of Horseshoe Lake, Pekin Road connects the city’s downtown area to its southern neighborhood district. Woodland Public Works Director Riley Bunnell explained that the road is a safety concern due to multiple cracks on its southbound side, from downtown to the residential neighborhoods.

“If you drive down south, it is a complete mess,” Bunnell said. “We have heavy truck traffic [there], so we really need to get that road completed.”

Construction will take place from the South Pekin Road / Davidson Avenue intersection to a portion of the road past Marty Loop. Partial lane closures will happen soon, as the project is expected to begin in early August. Bunnell aims to complete the project by Aug. 27 to ensure the road is ready before the school year begins. Because Pekin Road connects the city’s south residential zone to Woodland Middle School and Columbia Elementary School, project completion is a priority.

Additionally, the City Council accepted a $556,946 grant from the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments (CWCOG) for a sidewalk and bike lane on Pekin Road last week. The project total is $643,868, with $86,922 coming from the city’s funds. The new path will be built on the east side of the road, adjacent to Horseshoe Lake. Bunnell noted the project is slated for early 2025.

“We’ll get that roadway looking beautiful, get the infrastructure in place, and give people a good place to walk and bike out of the roadway,” Bunnell said.

Including preliminary engineering, the project will cost $702,660 in total. The City of Woodland will pay only $70,266 from city funds, with the remainder covered by a grant from the Transportation Improvement Board.