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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />STUDY SESSION DATE: March 13, 2023 <br />TOPIC: Berry Road Right of Way <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Direction to Staff <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Joshua Fredrickson <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Direct staff to prepare enabling documents for right of way acquisition on Berry Road <br />and pay the real estate excise tax for the seller. <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• Continued truck impact to guardrail at the intersection of Berry Road and Tjossem. <br />Road requires regular maintenance and replacement of guardrail. <br />• Signs have been posted advising of the inability to turn west onto Tjossem Road <br />for large trucks, which continue to turn and impact the guardrail. <br />• Roadway alignment revision requiring acquisition of property has been <br />developed. <br />• Acquisition of property is not exempt from excise tax. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />Berry Road intersects Tjossem Road just east of Wilson Creek. Truck traffic from the <br />truck stop on Canyon Road occasionally utilize Berry Road. There is insufficient turning <br />radius for trucks to safely turn westbound onto Tjossem Road. Trucks turning are <br />damaging the guardrail and bridge connection resulting in required replacement of the <br />guardrail on a regular basis. We are able to recuperate costs through insurance when the <br />driver is identified, but unable to recuperate the time spent on this recurring issue. To <br />improve the turning movement a different alignment for Berry Road has been developed <br />which requires acquisition of right-of-way. <br />DISCUSSION: <br />Public Works has replaced the guardrail at the intersection of Berry Road and Tjossem <br />multiple times due to trucks turning and damaging the rail. Signs have been posted to <br />advise drivers of the inability to turn, with little success. Public Works has designed a <br />different alignment for Berry Road to improve the turning radius. This new alignment <br />requires obtaining right-of-way from the adjoining parcel no. 806336. Public Works has <br />been in discussion with the property owner. An agreement has been reached to perform <br />in-kind work for exchange of a portion of the parcel to become right-of-way for the <br />realignment of Berry Road. In-kind work to be completed will match the value of the <br />land being acquired, based on a comparison of comparable properties conducted by <br />Page 1 of 5 <br />Public Works "Work Session Staff Report' 2023 <br />