Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
The Sunshine Trail-head, accessing the Bill Chipman Palouse Trail, is open and being used, after a summer of construction.
County Parks Director Tim Myers reported on the project to the Whitman County Parks Board at its Oct. 3 meeting.
Myers noted he or Todd Heitstuman, operations coordinator, checked the project work almost daily.
Indicating that the project was now complete, with some deficiencies addressed, Myers said there is still some work to do. This includes lighting and striping for the parking lot.
Myers said the parks department has paid out $67,524 to the contractor, Harry Johnson Plumbing and Excavation of Walla Walla.
The trailhead is at the Sunshine Road intersection midway between Pullman and Moscow.
The project provided 15 parking spaces with four of them, including a handicapped space, paved.
“There’s still a couple items that the contractor may not feel are complete,” Myers said.
For example, a late change order was issued for extra excavation since the workers ran into rubble.
Additional cost, which was always deemed to come from the general Chipman Trail budget, is for lighting and striping of the parking lot.
The trailhead does not include a rest room. Myers noted he had concerns that such a facility could become a pit stop for car traffic on the Moscow-Pullman High-way.
Portable restrooms are situated along the Chipman Trail.
Myers estimates the total project cost will be about $75,000, with funding coming from an eight-year-old local programs grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Myers added some kind of ceremony to officially open the trailhead will be held next spring.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
Reader Comments(0)