Lower River Road, or state Highway 501, which runs north along the Columbia River and is the southern access to the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge, along with the river itself, is a very beautiful and popular bicycle-riding and bird-watching destination.
However, Washington Department of Transportation is not interested in maintaining the road, so a gate was installed at Milepost 10 to keep out motor vehicles. Walkers and bicyclists are presently permitted to use the right of way north of the gate. However, the state has recently turned the road over to the county. The county wants to abandon the road, which would then be given to the adjacent property owners, becoming private property. Thus, all public access would be lost.
The final county public hearing on the abandonment of the road is at 10 a.m. Sept. 20. This section of road is too valuable an asset to give away. The road or at least an easement must be retained for walkers and bicyclists.
I encourage everyone to contact the person in charge of the hearing, Laura Slye (Laura.Slye@clark.wa.gov. or by phone at 360-397-6118, ext. 4777) and your county councilor to voice your support for keeping an easement and public access to this jewel of a road.
