WSDOT and FHWA honor county public-works team for smooth delivery of Lamar/Arch Bridge project

Representatives from the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Local Programs office presented Wallowa County Public Works with the statewide ‘County Project’ Award on July 28 for the Lamar/Arch bridge project. WSDOT staff said the project stood out for timely delivery, accurate documentation and effective partnership with the contractor and federal partners during a period that included COVID-era constraints.

Why it matters: The award recognizes best practices in small‑jurisdiction project delivery and documentation; WSDOT said the county’s recordkeeping and willingness to coordinate with Federal Highway Administration reviewers were factors. County staff said the project was completed quickly, on budget, and used 100% federal construction funding for that phase.

Recognition and next steps: The commissioners and Public Works leadership accepted a commemorative plaque and poster from WSDOT. Public Works indicated it will continue similar project-management practices on upcoming projects and share lessons learned with regional partners.

Context: WSDOT’s Local Programs recognizes a small number of city, county and special-project efforts statewide each year; Walla Walla County’s public-works team was selected as the top county project for the state year.