Commissioners speak on Pullman, road projects

COLFAX — The Whitman County Commissioners convened for their 9 a.m. workshop before their regular business meeting in the Commissioner’s chambers of the Whitman County Courthouse on Tuesday, June 20.

A discussion started with Whitman County Public Works Director Mark Storey speaking on an ongoing project in downtown Pullman to move freight.

Storey told the commissioners that the project focuses on downtown Pullman. He further stated that its focus is not on Kirkendahl or the freight along Kirkendahl and Sand Road, but they intend to look at alternatives to a north or a south direct bypass and see if they can come up with something else they can do.

“It’s about downtown Pullman and the regional transportation planning,” Storey told the Gazette, explaining that the Department of Transportation (DOT) is looking to study freight movements in and around Pullman.

Storey told the commissioners that the original amount slated for that project was $100,000, which came from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) planning money for the Eastern Region.

He explained that the project had some legal issues between Pullman and WSDOT trying to put a contract together, delaying it for a few months.

After the explanation, Storey stated that though the project feels new, it is a repackaged older project and will move forward.

He explained that the DOT is reapplying for the project.

“We really won’t know until we get into the next biennium, which begins July 1,” Storey said, adding that is when the new fiscal year begins.

“The county is just going to participate at the review level,” he said, adding that it’s not the county’s project, but they are assisting as best they can.

Storey also spoke on the Almota Road Project, which includes working on reconstructing about two miles of the road.

“We’re tearing it apart and putting a lot of rock under it,” he said, adding that this will make it better for year-round truck traffic.

Storey stated that the project is about a four-million-dollar project.

In the Commissioner’s workshop, he mentioned an unhappy resident who said the construction got in her way of work travel.

“We know it’s inconvenient for people,” Storey said, adding that they try to let everyone know what’s happening.

“I understand the residents’ frustration, but there’s no better way to do it,” he added.

Storey did add that the Almota project appears to be a little ahead of schedule.

He also shared with the Gazette that the chip sealing project, a million-dollar project chipping seals around the county, recently finished.

“An example of a road we did with that was the Colfax Airport Road,” Storey said, adding that they just got it painted the week of Monday, June 12 through Friday, June 16.

He noted that the project included part of several roads, including Almota, Endicott, and Pandora, near Rosalia.