A proposed East/West truck route around Pullman, located south of the city, has emerged as a leading option for the initiative aimed at redirecting heavy freight traffic away from downtown.

During their meeting on Monday night, Moscow City Councilmembers will discuss the possibility of participating in the project. A report prepared for the council indicates that Whitman County intends to apply for a federal grant to fund the design and engineering of the route. To assist with the grant application, the county plans to hire the consulting firm Welch Comer. The Moscow City Council is being asked to contribute up to $13,500 towards this effort, while Whitman County will cover the remaining costs, which should not exceed $45,000. According to the city staff report, this truck route, originating southeast of Moscow, is expected to alleviate freight traffic in downtown Moscow.

The total estimated cost for the South Pullman bypass project is nearly $19 million. The proposed route would begin at the intersection of Mountain View Road and Palouse River Drive southeast of Moscow. From there, it would extend west along Palouse River Drive to U.S. Highway 95 south of Moscow, continuing on to the state line and Sand Road in Washington. The route would then proceed west onto Kirkendahl Road, south of Pullman, leading to U.S. Highway 195.

Officials have reviewed three potential truck routes from the recently completed Pullman-Whitman County Freight Alternatives Study conducted by the Palouse Regional Transportation Planning Organization. The southern route, which officials support, is the most costly option, exceeding the estimated expenses of an alternative route along Albion Road to the north of Pullman.