Rosalia digging starts Whitman County section of port fiber line

Project to provide high-speed data link from Spokane to Clarkston.

Crews were set to begin in Rosalia Wednesday laying the Port of Whitman County’s $12 million high speed fiber optic cable.

Joe Poire, port executive director, said Monday the port is wrapping up its permit process but workers from contractor Henkels and McCoy of Coeur d’Alene were going to begin putting conduit through Rosalia.

When finished, the 157-mile project will provide a broadband internet link between Spokane and Clarkston through rural Spokane and Whitman counties.

Conduit will be laid alongside state highways 195, 271...