Culvert washout results in road closures; repairs coming

I have an update from our Planning and Public Works Department related to the road closure and culvert repair at 264th Street East, pictured below.

What’s happening

264th Street East remains closed to through traffic between Orting Kapowsin Highway East and 118th Avenue East following a culvert washout on Jan. 7, 2022.

The Pierce County Planning and Public Works Department is currently developing the repair plan.

The department expects to replace the culvert and repair the road this spring, pending permitting. The road will remain closed until the repair is complete.

Alternate route

Motorists can take Orting Kapowsin Highway East to 252nd Street East to 122nd Avenue East to 256th Street East to 118th Avenue East to travel through the area.

Background

The culvert was located approximately 900 feet west of 134th Avenue East.

A ditch that flows through the culvert located underneath 264th Street East experienced high waters during an early January 2022 storm. The ditch connects to South Creek.

About half of the culvert washed out and damaged the road surface, leaving the road unsafe to drive on. Please do not move the barricades or walk/drive in the closure area.

Repair plan

Work to collect site information such as survey data, the location of utility infrastructure, and soil samples is complete. The Planning and Public Works Department is currently designing the repair, procuring materials, identifying next steps for permitting, and developing the repair schedule.

The new culvert will be designed to support fish passage. While the original culvert was 36 inches in diameter, the new culvert will be 16 feet wide.

Updates will be posted to the project page on Pierce County website. The webpage also includes department contact information.

Thank you,