Spokane County officials told the Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 30 that the county received just over $3 million in Highway Safety Improvement Program funding to advance several safety-focused county-road projects.

The awards will fund intersection and corridor work including a roundabout at the Harvard/Deeply intersection, intersection improvements on Harbor Road, guardrail upgrades on the Day Mount Spokane corridor and a bundled set of improvements on Hayford, Trails, Government Way and Foraker roads. A county presenter said, "This is a 0 match program, so this is a 100% funded," and that the county was awarded "just over $3,000,000 for these projects."

County staff said project selection used the county's high-engineering network and concentrated on roadways with higher risks for run‑off-the-road collisions. Harbor Road was described as an important National Highway System truck route that links to Liberty Lake and Interstate 90; the presenter said the Harbor Road multi‑phase project has received nearly $8 million in past awards including an STBG award and the recent HSIP allocation. For the Harvard/Deeply intersection the county said a roundabout was chosen because it is "proven to reduce fatal and serious injuries while still moving people and goods efficiently and safely."

Preliminary engineering for several projects is scheduled to begin in 2026. The presentation listed estimated project costs (Harbor/Harvard corridor described as having an estimated $1.5 million cost, with a recent $500,000 HSIP allocation and prior STBG funding) and gave a 2028 construction target year for some projects. The presenter described the Hayford/Trails/Government Way/Foraker bundle as a mix of guardrail installation/upgrades, centerline and shoulder rumble strips and selective tree removal; that bundle was described as a $1.2 million project. The Day Mount Spokane (Bruce Road to Green Bluff Road) guardrail project was presented as $1.2 million and fully funded by HSIP.

Commissioners asked how HSIP award amounts were determined; staff replied that project cost estimates were provided to the program and projects were selected based on demonstrated need and program prioritization. No formal action or vote was taken; the briefing was informational.

County staff said the awards illustrate a strategy of stacking multiple federal funding sources to cover projects more fully. Commissioners were invited to ask follow-up questions about schedules and funding details.