From the editors of The Chronicle
Shorey Road in Centralia will partially reopen to traffic on September 1, while Lewis County crews continue to work to stabilize the road after erosion was discovered earlier this year.
In late July, Lewis County Public Works closed the road in both directions, but it remains open to residents. Alternate routes are available during the closure.
In an email, Lewis County Engineer Geoff Soderquist said traffic will resume during off-hours. Traffic will resume with alternating one-way traffic during off-hours and flag-posted traffic during off-hours.
Travelers should expect delays due to construction work that will last until mid-October.
In January, the road was closed about a week after erosion was discovered along the Newaukum River. The closure came after rains hit the region and caused river levels to rise, although riverbank erosion had occurred in the area before.
Soderquist pointed out at the time that erosion was a long-term problem.
During the closure, photos showed erosion extending about two feet from the river bank. There were some cracks caused by erosion in the northbound lane of Shorey Road, according to Soderquist.
