Truck drivers hauling freight across Eastern Washington may soon have another place to stop, as work is set to begin on a $2.1 million A1 Truck Wash LLC facility in West Spokane — marking the Pasco, Washington-based company's first expansion into Spokane County, says the project’s designer, Chris Baugh, of Kennewick, Washington-based Chris Baugh Architect PLLC.

The three-bay truck wash facility will be built at 10315 W. Westbow Road, near the Petro Travel Center, which is on the southeast side of Interstate 90, and east of the Geiger Boulevard interchange.

Contractors for the 13,800-square-foot project include Kennewick-based Clearspan Steel LLC and Harp's Construction LLC, also of Kennewick, says Baugh. Spokane Valley-based McCanna Engineering LLC and Dumais Romans Inc., also of Spokane Valley, provided civil and mechanical engineering services, respectively.

A1 Truck Wash is owned by Jessi Mundi, who also owns other truck wash facilities in Pasco, Washington, and other parts of the U.S., says Baugh.

A commercial building permit has been issued for the project, but a construction timeline has not yet been determined, Baugh says.

In addition to three bays for truck washing, the facility will also include two auxiliary waiting rooms for drivers, office space, and mechanical and chemical storage areas, Baugh says.

The wash will rely on manual labor rather than automated conveyor systems, with staff using pressure hoses, specialty coatings, and undercarriage cleaning equipment to service an estimated five to 15 trucks per day, he adds.

Baugh says the wash will employ four laborers and two office workers at any given time. The business will operate seven days a week, with hours ranging from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and shorter hours on weekends, he says. The facility will be closed on major holidays.

The project’s permitting process stretched longer than anticipated, Baugh adds, explaining that the facility is located in Spokane County but tied to the city of Spokane’s utilities. Also, since trucking-related traffic falls under the purview of the Washington state Department of Transportation, the project plans were routed through multiple agencies. However, the project’s team worked closely with county and city staff and was ultimately able to secure approval, he says.

“They did a great job of working with us and helping us through the process,” Baugh says. “For what seemed like a simple building, it took a bit longer to put together.”