Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Mark Storey
At the Monday meeting of the Whitman County commissioners, Planning Director Alan Thomson, sitting in the front left, and Public Works Director Mark Storey, sitting on the right, discuss county road projects. Commissioners sitting in the back of the photo are from left, Michael Largent, Dean Kinzer and Chairman Art Swannack.
The 2015 annual construction program for county roads was approved by county commissioners Monday.
Aside from an estimated $360,000 in miscellaneous work to be done by county road department personnel, five main projects are on the list: Hatley Bridge, Farmington Road overlay, Almota Road, Sand Road and Edmondson Bridge.
On Pullman-Wawawai Road, a partial rebuilding of the Hatley Bridge is set for next year at a cost of $808,000. The money will come from Federal Surface Transportation funds, which are generated from gas taxes. No county funds will be used.
The Whitman County Road Department studied the bridge two years ago and deemed the existing girders to be near a marginal rating for supporting heavy loads.
In turn, the bridge then was marked at a reduced speed for trucks (35 mph) as well as a sign permitting only one truck at a time on the span.
The Farmington Road overlay project is the re-paving of five miles north of Farmington to Seltice Road. This 2015 project hinges on whether the county is granted $750,000 in state Rural Arterial Program funding.
“We’re 85 percent confident we’ll get it,” said Mark Storey, county Public Works Director.
The other $300,000 in estimated cost would come from Federal Surface Transportation Funds.
The Almota Road work listed for next year is a continuation of a reconstruction project, now in phase four. The summer work this coming year would be in the realm of design, survey and right-of-way acquisition. No ground work will be done.
As for the proposed work on Sand Road, crews will widen the gravel section from the Idaho state line to the end of the pavement – three miles in from Johnson Road (outside Pullman).
This project is not yet certain for 2015 either, as funds are still sought for the estimated $920,000 cost, which would widen the road to 28 feet.
“Definitely maybe,” said Storey on the prospect of this going to bid in April for summer 2015 work.
Storey indicated that the improved road could save money elsewhere.
“We think we can build a little bit better road and maybe reduce maintenance costs too,” he said.
Sand Road includes the 19-foot wide Edmondson Bridge. To align it to the widened road, surveying and design work will be performed next year. The cost for this preliminary work is estimated at $40,000.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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