Almota, Farmington road projects get funds

Whitman County has received funding for two road projects from the state's County Road Administration Board.

Mark Storey, Whitman County's Public Works Director and a member of the CRAB board, told county commissioners Monday the money will go for an overlay on Farmington Road and Phase III of the reconstruction of Almota Road.

“These projects are still out there a ways, but you've got to secure the money first,” said Storey.

For Almota Road, funding of $1.63 million was awarded for Phase III, a $4.46 million project involving 2.5 miles, from just before the Summers Road intersection south to the top of Henning Hill. The $1.63 million will partially fund the work, with the rest of the funding expected in the next biennium.

All of the Almota Road project is now fully funded. Phase IV has received money already because the design work was completed before Phase III.

A 4.5-mile stretch from the top of Henning Hill to Highway 194, Phase IV will be done next year with Phase III construction to follow four or five years after that.

The total Almota Road projects is expected to be complete in 2020-21.

A four-mile section of Farmington Road to Seltice received $750,000, on the program's 80/20 match with the county covering 20 percent of the project. The work is expected to be done next year or the year after.