Due to a union strike by members of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302, construction on McNeil Canyon is currently suspended.
Update 8/28/25:
Road construction on McNeil Canyon has not resumed. The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302, District 5, is currently still on strike. The striking IUOE workers are contractor workers, not Douglas County employees.
Under the terms of the contract with Scarcella Brothers, and pursuant to Washington State law (RCW 39.04), Douglas County cannot interfere with or assume the work. The contractor retains sole responsibility for construction operations, including labor management, scheduling, and site safety.
Douglas County is actively monitoring the situation, maintaining communication with the contractor, and will provide updates to the public as new information becomes available. Our priority remains the safe and timely completion of this important project, and we appreciate the community’s patience and understanding.
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The McNeil Canyon Road Realignment project is currently suspended due to a strike by members of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302. The strike is also impacting other construction projects across the state, including in Spokane and the Tri-Cities.
The McNeil Canyon Road Realignment Project began on June 2, 2025, with Scarcella Brothers serving as the project contractor. The employees participating in the strike are contractor employees, not Douglas County staff. McNeil Canyon road construction is being carried out under the contract with Scarcella Brothers.
It is too early to determine the length of the strike, but Douglas County transportation staff are in close contact with the contractor to evaluate schedules. Dust control will be managed daily with water trucks. Douglas County is not involved in the labor negotiations and cannot comment on those discussions. Questions about the strike should be directed to union representatives.
We appreciate your patience and will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as work resumes.