County receives grant for road safety projects

Whitman County was chosen last week to receive a $620,000 grant for local roads from the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program.

The money will be used to re-stripe county roads, install rumblestrips and add guardrails.

Roads to be re-striped will be those which have not been painted for at least three years. Segments of five roads will get rumblestrips cut into centerlines.

“I hate rumblestrips. But they simply save lives,” said Mark Storey, county public works director. He noted how the cuts in asphalt collect water and ice in the winter which causes maintenance problems later.

The strips will be laid in on asphalt roads which are thick enough, 2.5 to 3 inches. Roads designated for the work include 15 miles of Endicott Road from the Endicott to Highway 26, all four miles of Palouse Cove Road, 3-1/3 miles of Albion Road, 3-1/2 miles of Pullman-Albion Road and 2-1/2 miles of Pullman-Airport Road.

“They have enough asphalt and enough traffic,” Storey said.

For guardrail, perhaps 2,000 feet will be added along Pullman-Wawawai and Wawawai Road. In addition, some existing guardrail ends and connections will be replaced.