Grant County Jail construction second phase start dependent on permit approvals

EPHRATA — The first phase of construction of the new Grant County Jail - demolition and site preparation - was supposed to start next week, but cooperative weather meant the project actually started in late January. Grant County Central Services Director Tom Gaines said footings, foundations and walls tentatively are scheduled to start going up in March or April. When foundations will start going in and walls going up depends on the approval of a state-required environmental review. That process is still ongoing. “We’re digging the sewer line right now,” Gaines said. “A lot of the demolition is done.” The new jail will be at the location of the old Ephrata Raceway, at the intersection of State Route 282 and Nat Washington Way. The track and pits, the bleachers, the announcer booth and the concession stand have all been removed. As an old racetrack the site had contaminated dirt that had to be removed, Gaines said, and all that work is completed too.