Five bids submitted for Sunshine Trailhead parking project

Whitman County commissioners on Monday morning opened five bids for the Sunshine Trailhead project. Sunshine Trailhead is about halfway between Pullman and Moscow off Sunshine Road. The county purchased part of the trailhead property and part of it was donated by the property owner.

A paved and graveled parking area will accommodate about a dozen cars. A paved connection will lead to the Chipman Trail. That trail is about seven miles long and runs between Pullman and Moscow.

Tim Myers, county parks department director, said the project was born out of a desire to have someplace to park.

The bids that were submitted were Harry Johnson Plumbing and Excavation, $69,904.50; Watt Construction Services Inc., $79,790.81; Poe Asphalt and Paving Co., $87,208.58; Motley-Motley Inc., $82,254.70; ML Albright and Sons Co., $71,035.75.

County public works staff will go over the bids and report back to commissioners at the regular meeting next Monday.

Myers said the trail is used daily.

“It’s probably the most used recreation in the county,” he said.

“It’s an alternative transportation route,” he said. “It’s definitely used as a bike path, for walking, hiking and roller blading.”

The trail is maintained by an interlocal agreement between the cities of Pullman and Moscow, Washington State University, University of Idaho and Whitman County, with the county managing the decisions for the trail.