The Town of Coulee City is planning to reconstruct West Douglas Street from its intersection at Walnut Street to its intersection at 6th Street. The area of potential effect (APE) covers approximately 0.5 acres, and lies in Section 03 of Township 24 North, Range 28 East, Willamette Meridian. The stretch of West Douglas Street that will be rebuilt measures approximately 650 feet long by 40 feet wide. This project will require reconstruction of the gravel road to include a new base, a paved surface, adjacent sidewalk, and all necessary utilities and infrastructure.
The Washington State Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) is helping fund this transportation project through a Small City Arterial Program (SCAP) grant. The TIB is an independent state agency that distributes and manages street construction and maintenance grants with revenue generated by the statewide gas tax. Since this project is funded by state funds, the Town of Coulee City must meet the requirements of Executive Order 05-05 and consider the potential impacts to historic properties prior to project execution.
The Project Area is currently a gravel road with residential property to the northeast and industrial property to the southwest of West Douglas Street. The cultural resource survey coincided with Gray & Osborne’s geotechnical investigation. The monitoring of the geotechnical trenches provided an opportunity to view the soils of the project area, and gauge the depth of disturbance from the original road construction. A historic debris scatter, 45GE3388, was recorded around the area of Trench #3. The site consisted of a diffuse spread of metal fragments, glass fragments, and some burned wood that is situated between West Douglas Street and the Northern Pacific Railroad. The site is recommended not eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places due to its lack of distinction and association with important historic events. Archaeological monitoring is recommended during construction within the site boundary of site 45GR3388.
Location: Grant County, Washington
