Benton County commissioners had to scale back a multi-million dollar funding request to build the Red Mountain interchange after discovering they were too greedy in a resolution passed last week.
The board voted Monday to rescind its earlier request for $24 million in federal transportation money and to replace it with a $5.5 million request.
Jim Beaver, commission chairman, said the mistake was brought to his attention by officials with the Benton Rural Electric Association. He said they and representatives of other public agencies interested in seeing the interchange built had been working behind the scenes with Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., on a $5 million application for federal funding.
Going for the larger amount most likely would "get our request kicked out," Beaver said.
The commissioners' resolution approved Feb. 1 called for Murray to support a $24 million request from the 2011 transportation budget. That's the estimated amount needed to complete an interchange on Interstate 82 at milepost 100, which is approximately halfway between the Interstate 182 interchange and the Benton City exit.
The Red Mountain interchange would provide direct access to West Richland and easy connections with wineries in the Red Mountain area. The project also would bring improvements at Benton City and I-82, including a roundabout where highways 224 and 225 intersect.
Beaver said Benton REA officials recommended the $24 million request be withdrawn and replaced with a new resolution calling for $5.5 million.
"We need to go after the $5 million and the rest when it is available," Beaver said.
The vote last week on the $24 million resolution was passed by Beaver and Max Benitz, with commissioner Leo Bowman opposed. Bowman argued that they should ask for a more reasonable $5 million.
Monday's vote on the new resolution was unanimous in support.
"Had I known about this earlier, the board would have voted differently (last week)," Beaver said.
The application has to be submitted by Friday, Beaver said.
-- John Trumbo: 509-582-1529; jtrumbo@tricityherald.com
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