County to close L. West road to repair bridges

L. West Road south of Palouse will be closed for two weeks early next month as Whitman County crews repair a pair of wooden bridges.

Public Works Director Mark Storey reported Monday the road will be posted as closed from Sept. 4 through Sept. 13 to allow crews to replace rotting wooden pieces of Robinson and Turnbow Flat bridges on the dirt portion of L. West Road.

The L. West Road runs between Highway 27 and Lawson Road on the east side of the highway. It intersects with Highway 27 about one and one half miles south of where the Clear Creek Road intersects with the highway on the opposite side of Highway 27.

The L. West Road is named after Lyle West who resides near the highway intersection.

Storey said the closure could have some impact on harvest traffic, but noted trucks will be able to use the road up to the bridges. He added there are several nearby alternate routes to move east and west.

The repairs are expected to remove the weight restrictions posted on Robinson bridge which is located about halfway on the two mile road. The Turnbow bridge is located about a half mile east of the highway at the end of the improved gravel section of the road.

Storey added fish and wildlife permits require the bridge work be done in the summer to minimize disturbance to fish passages.