Microsoft-funded $50M Malaga water project brings road closures

MALAGA — A series of Microsoft-funded water infrastructure projects expected to total about $50 million will begin this month in Malaga, bringing road closures and traffic delays while expanding the community's water capacity over the next two years.

The Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority and Malaga Water District announced Thursday that four coordinated construction projects will add approximately 9 miles of new transmission and distribution water lines along with 1.2 million gallons of additional water storage.

Officials said the improvements are designed to increase the reliability and pumping capacity of Malaga's water system. According to the Port Authority, the projects will be funded by Microsoft and will not increase rates for Malaga Water District customers.

Construction is expected to begin in phases through summer 2027.

The first project, scheduled to begin in July or August, will construct two 750,000-gallon concrete reservoirs and approximately 4,500 feet of parallel 18-inch transmission water mains along Wallace Road. The work will require full closures of Wallace Road, with access limited to local traffic and emergency vehicles, as well as intermittent lane closures on Joe Miller Road. Construction is expected to continue through October 2027.

A second phase beginning in August will install approximately 9,000 feet of new transmission water mains along West Malaga Road. Motorists should expect flagger-controlled single-lane traffic while work is underway.

Construction on a transmission water main along Saturday Avenue and Dixie Lane is anticipated to begin in January or February 2027, with shoulder closures and intermittent single-lane traffic expected during construction.

A fourth project to install a new water main along West Malaga Road is scheduled to begin in summer 2027 and will also involve shoulder closures and intermittent single-lane traffic.

The Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority will host two public information meetings at the Malaga Fire Station, 3760 W. Malaga Road, to discuss the projects. Meetings are scheduled for 6 to 7 p.m. July 21 and 10 to 11 a.m. July 22.

Additional information is available at cdrpa.org/malaga-water-system.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media