Federal funding to support first stage of Jackson Highway improvements

May 27-Lewis County accepted $424,000 in federal funds coming through the Washington state Department of Transportation for a project that seeks to improve driver safety on Jackson Highway.

The Lewis County Board of Commissioners passed two resolutions during its Tuesday business meeting to accept federal funding from the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program.

The funds are directed to preliminary engineering costs for two phases of the 2025 County Safety Program.

According to documents included in the board of commissioners meeting agenda, the two phases together will improve the entire span of Jackson Highway with widened shoulders, improved ditches, new signs and new guard rails.

Lewis County Public Works Director Geoff Soderquist presented the resolutions to the commissioners and informed them that the funds granted to the county will cover 100% of the costs for the engineering of the project and require no financial contribution from the county.

According to an award letter attached to the resolutions, both phases of the project qualify for full funding through the Highway Safety Improvement Program as long as the phases are approved for funding before April 2028.

Phase one of the project, which will upgrade guard rails along Jackson Highway, is expected to cost approximately $1.38 million in total, which includes the $150,000 for engineering and another roughly $1.23 million for construction.

Phase two of the project, which includes widening shoulders, installing new signage, treating culverts and improving ditches, is expected to cost around $3.74 million, with $275,000 for engineering and about $3.47 million for construction.

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