SPOKANE, Wash. – Warmer weather is a sign that spring has arrived, which means it’s time for construction season in the Inland Northwest.
“This is a part of our street maintenance program, to make sure they’re lasting as long as they can,” said City of Spokane spokesperson Kirstin Davis.
First, more work at Thor-Freya kicked off last week, closing the I-90 westbound exit.
“That is an extension of that work that was done a couple years ago,” Davis said. “We need to rebuild the intersections of Second Ave. and Third Ave. on both Thor and Freya with concrete to make it last longer.”
Next, lane reductions will be in place for both directions of 29th Ave. from Grand Blvd. to Ray St. through mid-July, for repaving one of the South Hill’s busiest thoroughfares.
“There’s just always going to be a point in time where we have to do those high traffic areas,” Davis said.
Perhaps the most significant impact for drivers this construction season will be work on Washington St. through Downtown Spokane.
Starting next Monday, April 8, Washington will close at Boone Ave. for about two weeks, which means anyone heading to the Spokane Arena, One Spokane Stadium or the Podium anytime soon could be in for some delays.
“We have to replace really old pipes from the early 1900s in that intersection at Boone and Washington,” Davis said.
That will be followed by repaving work on Washington from Maxwell Ave. all the way south to the Washington Bridge, repair work on the bridge itself and more repaving on Washington and Stevens from Spokane Falls Blvd. to Third Ave.
Davis said the whole project will likely last through October.
“It’s going to be one thing after another through that whole corridor,” Davis added.
Other ongoing roadwork projects in the city limits include:
Cheney-Spokane Rd. is down to one lane west of US-195 for a Latah Valley water main replacement37th Ave. is closed near Crestline for about the next two weeks for water infrastructure work near Hamblen ParkPost St. Bridge construction continues–the city is hopeful it’ll be open for the start of Expo 74’s 50th Anniversary celebration and Bloomsday Sunday on the first weekend in may.
If there’s work going on in your neck of the woods, Davis stresses the importance of planning ahead and following detours in place.
“It’s important to keep everyone safe, those workers and pedestrians,” Davis said. “Try not to cut through neighborhoods, that’s very dangerous for those residents in unmarked intersections, so we always want you to follow those detours because they’re important.”
