DeAtley low bidder for rock contract

DeAtley Crushing of Lewiston was awarded Whitman County contract last week to crush 50,000 tons of road rock from the county’s quarry at Union Center.

DeAtley’s bid of $269,750 was less than half the bids submitted by two other firms. Motley & Motley of Pullman bid $753,960 while Seubert Excavators of Cottonwood bid $681,620. The difference came in mobilization costs. DeAtley estimated $18,000 to have its crews crush, while Suebert bid $410,120 and Motley bid $463,460.

Public Works Director Mark Storey said the county is being required by the state’s Department of Natural Resources to blast rock off the top of the quarry because its wall is too steep. Storey said there will be at least one more crushing from Union Center in the next three to five years.

The crushed rocks will be used to maintain gravel roads and to chip seal paved roads.