The state House Transportation Committee heard about the Red Mountain Transportation Project at a meeting Thursday.

Troy Berglund of the Benton Rural Electric Association and Don Whitehouse, a regional administrator for the state Department of Transportation, presented information about the project during a work session in Olympia.

The project includes building a roundabout at the Benton City exit of Interstate 82 and a new interchange connecting West Richland and the Red Mountain area to the highway.

"One of the key things that separates this project from a lot of others is the economic impact it will have," Berglund said, noting it's estimated to bring

$102 million in annual permanent payroll, $327 million in annual business and worker spending and several thousand jobs.

He noted it has wide support in the Tri-City area.

Whitehouse said about

$27.5 million is needed for both phases.