County buys mag chloride to stabilize four roads

Whitman County Public Works accepted a bid two weeks ago for a road stabilization product for this spring's work, the third-year of the program which aims to improve high traffic stretches of gravel road.

The county received four bids for the magnesium chloride and chose to go with Envirotech Services of Spokane Valley at $36,000 for 47,787 gallons, or $3,000 per mile.

The material will be spread in May on sections of four roads; a 1.7 mile stretch of Hilty Road east of Colfax, three miles of Brayton Road north of Pullman, two miles of Country Club Road south of Pullman and one-half mile of Sunset Road south of Thornton.

Criteria for where the work is done is set at gravel roadways with 12 or more homes in a mile or a hill that washboards – meaning gravel does not stay in place.