Spokane County Crews Get New Home with $15 Million Public Works Headquarters
Spokane County crews responsible for overseeing the largest road network in the state now have brand new facilities to call home. Over the summer, Spokane County completed a $15 million headquarters for its Public Works department, consolidating the municipality’s sign shop, signal technicians, bridge crew, materials lab, and training grounds all under one roof.
**A Site with a Complex History**
The new Public Works operations building is located on the former Vermiculite Northwest site at the corner of Maple Street and Maxwell Avenue. This redevelopment represents a significant transformation of a contaminated site that was long a source of concern for the West Central Neighborhood.
The county purchased the land in 2000—nearly 30 years after the W. R. Grace and Co. closed its Vermiculite Northwest plant there. The plant processed vermiculite ore shipped by rail from the company’s mine in Libby, Montana, turning it into Zonolite attic insulation. Unfortunately, the insulation contained cancer-causing asbestos, as the mine’s large deposit contaminated much of the vermiculite, as well as the surrounding soil and former processing structures.
The Environmental Protection Agency identified the contamination in the early 2000s, but cleanup efforts spanned over a decade. Several soil removals took place on the site and surrounding neighborhoods. The most asbestos-contaminated area—the northwest corner where the processing buildings once stood—was capped with asphalt in 2007.
**A Generational Investment in Public Works**
The new facility not only breathes new life into the neighborhood but also marks a “generational investment” in the county’s road operations, according to Senior Director of Public Works Kyle Twohig.
“It’s really allowed for a greater synergy of our operation; all of our teams can collaborate better and more efficiently for delivery of services,” Twohig said. “They’re out into the field faster, our response times are going to be quicker. We’re just able to do our jobs better.”
Commissioner Chris Jordan, who represents the West Central Neighborhood, echoed this sentiment. He played a key role in the removal of the last remnants of the vermiculite processing facility—long considered nuisance properties—prior to construction.
“I’m glad to see the dilapidated structures that were a magnet for bad behavior are gone, and I’ve continued to receive positive feedback from the neighborhood on that one,” Jordan said.
**Design and Construction Highlights**
The site had long served as a staging area for county materials. To avoid disrupting operations during the department’s busiest time of year, the county used a progressive design-build process for this project—the largest it has approached using this method.
Twohig noted that this staged approach offered greater flexibility and allowed contractor GarCo Construction to complete the 16,000-square-foot office and shop building and a nearby 11,500-square-foot premanufactured storage warehouse two months ahead of schedule and $250,000 under budget.
On the east end of the property, a pull-through lane for the county’s rigs separates the two structures. Inside the office and shop building, individualized workspaces line the north side for the traffic signal team, sign shop, bridge crew, and materials lab. A wide corridor down the center enables crews to mingle and collaborate. The western side houses several offices and a large meeting room.
**Supporting Extensive County Road Operations**
Spokane County manages an extensive road network consisting of 5,100 lane miles, as well as 127 traffic signals—including roughly 80 in Spokane Valley. Along these roadways, tens of thousands of road signs require regular replacement and repairs.
During peak construction season, experts in the materials lab conduct multiple tests to ensure the concrete and asphalt used meet long-term durability standards. The new facility features upgraded equipment, including the county’s first concrete curer, which accelerates testing processes.
**A Facility Built for the People**
Twohig expressed pride in seeing the crews enjoy a “once in a few generations” investment.
“That’s the coolest thing about this project,” he said. “Our guys are gritty and tough. They have always operated out of hand-me-down everything, so something’s end of-life when we get it.”
He added with a chuckle, “Our radios the sheriffs literally run them into the ground, and then we get them and run them for another 20 years.”
**Benefits Beyond Public Works**
For Commissioner Jordan, the project’s success extends beyond improved public works operations. Neighborhood residents have already voiced their appreciation for removing derelict buildings that attracted criminal behavior and replacing them with a secure, bustling work yard.
Moreover, the new headquarters makes way for another important county initiative. Previously, the signs and signals crews operated out of a garage at the corner of Gardner Avenue and Cedar Street—the same block that houses the Spokane Regional Stabilization Center. The county plans to expand this center soon to include crisis relief services.
Jordan and fellow commissioners have committed millions in opioid settlement funds toward the expansion and secured around $3 million from the state Legislature. Addressing the opioid crisis remains a top priority for Jordan, who is eager to share more details about this “flagship project” in the coming months.
“Relocating the public works elements to the new campus was instrumental in allowing the stabilization and crisis relief center to move forward,” Jordan said. “It’s a win-win. It’s great to see those opportunities where you get a benefit for your operations in one respect, and then we can help achieve another county goal on the other hand.”
—
This new Public Works headquarters marks a pivotal step in revitalizing Spokane County’s infrastructure and community, fostering more efficient operations while supporting vital county-wide initiatives.
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/oct/27/getting-there-spokane-county-public-works-new-head/
