WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Pedestrian access along the north end of the Whitetail Trail on Mill Creek Project lands will be closed to accommodate construction activities Aug. 22 through Sept. 23, according to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials at the Mill Creek Project office.
The trail closure is necessary to ensure public safety while the Corps makes concrete deck upgrades at the Mill Creek Diversion Dam.
The construction safety zone includes the Mill Creek Diversion Dam structure, including the concrete pad over the intake canal, and continuing down the Whitetail Trail to the end of the concrete diversion channel leading to Bennington Lake.
The concrete work will require heavy-vehicle traffic and transport of large equipment and materials on the gravel-surfaced access road along Mill Creek, also known as the Kingfisher Loop (or South Levee Service Road). While this gravel road will not be blocked off, visitors should be aware of construction vehicle traffic using this route and move to the side of the road to allow a safe distance for passing. The foot bridge near the Project Office will be open for visitors to cross, however the concrete deck at the Diversion Dam Intake Gate structure will be closed during this time.
Visitors should avoid any area which is marked as a construction zone or marked off with caution tape or fencing material. Visitors with dogs in these designated off-leash areas may want to temporarily leash their pets while in the construction activity areas to ensure their safety. A graphic-map of the construction area is available online at www.nww.usace.army.mil/html/offices/pa/NR/NR11_files/NR11-118map.jpg.
The upgraded concrete deck is part of a project to modernize and improve operational efficiency of the Intake Canal Gates at the Mill Creek Diversion Dam.
For more information about this project or for general information about Mill Creek Diversion Dam and/or Bennington Lake, call the Mill Creek office at (509) 527-7160.
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Release no. 11-118