Staircase Road in Mason County gets improvement funds

As much as $2.5 million has been allocated to improve Staircase Road, a key access point to Lake Cushman and Olympic National Park.

The U.S. Forest Service will receive the funds, approved by the Federal Highway Administration, according to a news release from U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, a Washington Democrat.

The road, used by tourists and residents, is dusty in the summer. The award will go toward a contract to survey, design and make permanent improvements starting in 2018. In the short term, Tacoma Public Utilities, the Forest Service and Mason County are working together on measures to reduce dust.

The funding was secured in the recent reauthorization of the federal transportation bill, also known as the FAST Act.

This story was originally published June 3, 2016 at 3:10 PM with the headline "Staircase Road in Mason County gets improvement funds."