Lydig Construction Inc., of Spokane, has begun site work for construction of a multimillion-dollar data center that Expeditors International of Washington Inc. plans to open in Airway Heights.

Expeditors, a big Seattle-based global logistics company bought land there last summer with plans to place a new data center there.

The data center is expected to employ about eight people, including some new hires here and some employees who will be transferred from another location, says company spokeswoman Blake Gray. The center is expected to open in mid-2010, she says.

Expeditors provides services that include coordination of warehousing, distribution, and shipping of raw and finished materials and equipment used in industrial and mining projects.

It also offers other services such as shipping insurance and customs coordination.

Wolfe Architectural Group PS, also of Spokane, designed the 22,700-square-foot structure.

Expeditors declines to discuss the project cost, but a $5.29 million total project value is listed on permit documents filed with the city of Airway Heights.

Expeditors was established in Seattle more than 30 years ago and has more than 250 offices worldwide. For 2008, it reported revenues of more than $5.6 billion, up from $5.2 billion in 2007.

Airway Heights so far has issued only a site-work permit for the project, which is located at 11718 W. 12th, north of U.S. 2 near Garfield Road.

The project has received environmental approval, and construction plans are under review, says Derek Marquez, an Airway Heights planner.