Pete HahnloserThe Washington State Public Works Board (PWB) is authorizing $169 million for construction projects and $6.3 million for preconstruction efforts to be used for community infrastructure upgrades. The grants and loans will aid public water, sewer and stormwater systems, as well as roads, streets and bridges. They will also be used to fund solid waste, recycling and organic infrastructure projects across the state.
The construction funding will back key community infrastructure projects in counties across Washington. These projects aim to safeguard drinking water, treat wastewater and manage stormwater to prevent pollution in the state’s waterways.
Additionally, PWB grants and loans will contribute to transit improvements and the remediation of a contaminated landfill site. Preconstruction funding will support projects in eight counties, helping communities plan for future drinking water and wastewater infrastructure developments.
Key projects include:
- City of Bellingham: $7,345,000 allocated for the Cornwall Avenue Landfill Cleanup. This project focuses on the remediation and capping of a former municipal landfill adjacent to Bellingham Bay. The cleanup will address contaminated sediment and support habitat restoration, with plans to transform the site into a city park.
- City of Hoquiam: $10 million granted for the construction of the North Shore Levee West Segment. Spanning about 5.5 miles, this FEMA-certified flood protection levee will be built along the west side of the Hoquiam River. The project will mitigate major flooding issues, improve climate resilience, and draw substantial federal investment.
The full list of awards is available as a PDF or via an interactive map.
These investments continue prior efforts, which supported more than $220 million in essential local infrastructure projects in September 2023.
Last year’s projects included:
- Town of Conconully: $4.3 million for the Broadway Street Bridge replacement, addressing risks of flooding, erosion, debris flow and sedimentation in the stream bed caused by the 2021 Muckamuck Fire. The new bridge will reduce flood risks and improve performance during heavy rainfall and snowmelt.
- City of Tacoma: $2.5 million for the Links to Opportunity Streetscape Project, upgrading sidewalks along the nearly finished Sound Transit Link light rail line, improving safety and accessibility for pedestrians, businesses and residents in the light rail corridor.
Established by the Legislature in 1985, the Washington State Public Works Board is a 13-member body that has allocated over $3.1 billion to more than 2,000 infrastructure projects across the state. The board’s goals are to promote local government self-sufficiency in addressing public works needs and support crucial public works projects by offering loans, grants, financing guarantees and technical assistance to local governments.
Nick Kelly / Faithlife Corporation, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
