A fix for Hoquiam’s ongoing Broadway Avenue bank stabilization issues got a major shot in the arm. Federal block grants totaling just under $1.6 million were awarded for the project in late June.

“To me this is phenomenal news,” said Hoquiam City Administrator Brian Shay. “Just under $1.6 million in federal transportation funds to fix Broadway, and it’s absolutely going to have to be fixed with the condition it’s in.”

A short stretch of bank on the west side of the roadway, where it runs right along the Hoquiam River, has been eroding away for years. The project is designed to reverse the slant of the bank to the road and cover it with rock to prevent future erosion.

The city applied for federal Surface Transportation Project funds six weeks ago and was notified by the Grays Harbor Council of Governments — the funding authority for such grants — June 23 of the award.

“It provides funding for construction through Phase 1, farthest to the north just before the big dip,” said Shay.

Phase 1 got was awarded $1,271,600 and includes funding for engineering, right of way and construction. Previous funding has allowed for ongoing engineering and geotechnical analysis. Phase 1 includes the stretch of roadway and the new funding “addresses the area at the end of the curves along the (Hoquiam) river where a large culvert passes under Broadway,” according to the report Shay provided the City Council on Monday.

An additional $305,000 was awarded to begin Phase 2 engineering and right-of-way to address the problem area “where 16th becomes Broadway,” said Shay, who noted in this stretch the river bank on the west side of the roadway has eroded right up to the guardrail.

The grants require a 13% match from the city. Shay said the city will pursue state Transportation Improvement Board and county funds. “In a perfect scenario no city funds” would be used for the project.

Councilman Steven Puvogel asked Shay if construction would create access issues for the residents north of the project area. Shay said the city would do what it could to keep one lane of traffic open with a flagger on each end and avoid shutting down the roadway completely.

Shay said it’s most likely construction on Phase 1 will happen in 2022, with the goal to begin in the summer.