Road closure barricades on Northwest Wellman Road Feb. 13.
Clark County Public Works has closed a portion of Northwest Pacific Highway at Northwest Wellman Road due to a washout.
The announcement stated that water could be seen “rushing” through an opening in the asphalt. Motorists can still access Wellman Road from the south, though traffic coming from the north would need an alternate route such as Interstate 5 or Northwest Bratton Road.
Public Works asks for people to stay out of the closed area and not to pass the barricades because of the danger.
The department believes the closure will be long-term as the road will require “extensive rebuilding” before it can reopen. The assessment of what needs to be done itself could take weeks.
Other Clark County roads had been closed Tuesday due to water over the roadway:
• Northeast J A Moore Road in two places where the road crosses tributaries of the East Fork Lewis River southeast of La Center.
• Northeast Delfel Road between Northeast 189th Street and Northeast 199th Street along the west side of Interstate 5 north of the Clark County Fairgrounds.
• Northwest Allen Canyon Road from Northwest 324th Street to Northwest 51st Avenue west of La Center.
Public Works noted that depending on the circumstances roads closed due to flooding can open as soon as the water recedes, though in other cases engineers will have to assess any safety risks before reopening.
Drivers were urged not to pass barricades or driving into flood waters — as little as one foot of water can make vehicles float and in two feet most vehicles can be swept away.
