It’s a long shot, but county will try for road grant

Thurston County is seeking $2.1 million in grant funding to widen a section of Vail Road Southeast.

County commissioners approved the application at Tuesday’s meeting. If the project becomes a reality, the county road fund will be required to kick in $562,500 in addition to the $2,137,500 grant.

The project would widen the driving lanes and add 5-foot shoulders to both sides between 158th and 135th avenues.

The road would widen from an overall 21 feet to 32 feet.

“The main thing is it’s going to make that particular stretch of roadway much safer for the traveling public, and also folks who might be using bicycles and pedestrians who happen to be walking along the roadway,” said Don Krupp, county manager.

The application seeks funding from the County Road Administration Board . If it’s approved, it will provide project funding from 2013-15.

The county will learn this fall whether the application was approved, according to Theresa Parsons, civil engineer.

The county has been successful in accruing funds through the program, Krupp said.

The county already has received funding from the County Road Administration Board for work on Delphi Road for the current biennium.

“Unless there is further funding into the program, we aren’t in line to getting any more money,” Parsons said. “At this point, it’s a bit of a long shot, but it’s always worth the effort.”

ckrotzer@theolympian.com   360-754-5476 theolympian.com/thisjustin   @chelseakrotzer