Contact:

Catherine Breault                              Fay Lim

Communications Specialist II           Communications Supervisor

Catherine.breault@snoco.org          Fay.Lim@snoco.org  

425-388-3053                                  425-388-6413

Snohomish County Public Works Secures Federal Funding for Construction of Repairs on Index-Galena Road

Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief Funds for the project now total $16.5 million

EVERETT, Wash., December 28, 2017 – Snohomish County has secured funding for final repairs to the washed out recreational corridor of Index-Galena Road. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has provided an additional $11.2 million in funding for the Index-Galena Project. This addition brings the total of FHWA Emergency Relief Funds to $16.5 million. The funding will be dedicated to the completion of design, permitting and construction between milepost 6.4 and 6.9, the section that was damaged during the 2006 flood.

“We are grateful that our congressional delegation supported this project, acknowledging its importance to the residents, businesses, and recreational users from across the region,” said Dave Somers, Snohomish County Executive. “This funding will help restore access to thousands of acres of Wild Sky Wilderness and finally restore this important regional roadway.”

The Index-Galena Road Project is in the final design and permitting stage. Construction cost is currently estimated at $20 million and is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2019. Additional funding for the Index Galena project will be contributed by Snohomish County, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Washington State County Road Administration Board (CRAB), and the Federal Land Access Program (FLAP).

“Index Galena Road has always been an important project to the county and our community,” said Steve Thomsen, Director of Snohomish County Public Works. “This funding was essential to the completion of the project, and provides us with the ability to begin the construction planning process.”

The repairs to Index-Galena Road will restore a vital 14 mile corridor that connects to homes and campgrounds in the area, and provides access to a multitude of recreational activities in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, enjoyed by residents from all over Snohomish County. Snohomish County Public Works has repaired 10 of the 11 originally impacted areas from the 2006 flooding that closed Index Galena Road. To read more about the history of this project, environmental impacts and repairs completed in the area, visit https://snohomishcountywa.gov/624/.

About Snohomish County Public Works

 The Snohomish County Public Works Department constructs and maintains county roads; controls and manages surface water quantity, quality, and fish habitats; and oversees the recycling and disposal of solid waste. The department’s main office is located at 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett, WA 98201. For more information about Snohomish County Public Works, visit www.snohomishcountywa.gov/PublicWorks.