County's paved roads mark big rating gain

Paved roads in Whitman County have improved significantly in the past 10 years, according to a report compiled by the Washington State County Road Administration Board.

From a 58 percent rating in 2009 to 82 percent for 2017 for all roads combined, the rating is based on conditions such as cracks, oil, surface, rises and other factors.

In 2009, Public Works Director Mark Storey began to push more money to overlays, pavement patches and spot seal-work instead of new road construction.

The change in emphasis coincided with passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in that year by the...