Date:  Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Contact: Jeff Adamson, North Central Region Communications Manager, Wenatchee, 509-667-2815, 509-669-8778 cell. E-mail: adamsoj@wsdot.wa.gov

MOSES LAKE – The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and local officials will cut the ribbon on the stimulus-funded SR 17, SR 282 paving and passing lane project about a mile west of Moses Lake at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 22.

The 13-mile paving project will be complete in a matter of days. It has extended the roadway’s life and increased its weight carrying capacity, while improving safety with a smoother driving surface, new striping and signage. The 4 -1/2 miles of new passing lanes improve mobility and safety.

Gov. Chris Gregoire and Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond announced in May that the $6.2 million paving contract was awarded to Granite Northwest Inc. The $12.6 million project received $8.6 million from the Recovery Act and helped support some 75 jobs.

Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond said, “In addition to good-paying jobs, these investments helped us to perform much-needed work that extends the life of our state highways and enhances safety in an area of heavy freight movement.”

Crews built two 12-foot-wide passing lanes on SR 17 between the Grant County Airport and Rocky Ford Creek. The two-mile-long northbound passing lane starts at South Neppel Road and ends at Northlake Road. A two-mile-long southbound passing lane was built between North Neppel Road and Northlake Road, and another half-mile-long passing lane starts at South Neppel Road and ends at McConihe Road.

Thursday’s event will take place at the intersection of SR 17 and McConihe Rd. Among the speakers will be State Representative Judy Warnick (R-13) and former State Senator Joyce Mulliken.

For more information about this project, visit the project web page: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR17/NorthMosesLakePassingLane/.

Washington State is administering the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act investments with an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability. Gov. Gregoire created a Web site, www.recovery.wa.gov/, so every Washingtonian can see where tax dollars are going and hold government accountable for the results. On the federal level, President Obama has appointed Vice President Biden to oversee all states’ recovery efforts and to root out waste and fraud. This combined oversight will ensure taxpayer dollars are put to good use and recharge the economy. 
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