Work On Indiana Widening Project To Begin Soon

The city of Spokane plans to begin widening Indiana Avenue later this month.

Council members earlier this week unanimously approved a $426,840 bid from Acme Materials and Construction to transform Indiana into a four-lane road from Standard to Columbus streets.

Acme plans to start the project July 17.

When the city decided last year to widen Indiana, some neighbors were upset, saying it would increase traffic problems. Others said they weren’t being offered fair market value for their property.

Since then, the city has bought several feet of property from 22 landowners, said Dennis Berringer, real estate director. He still is in negotiations with the seven remaining owners, but they all have signed or promised to sign “immediate use and possession” agreements, he said.

The project will go ahead on schedule, he said. “Our hope and desire is not to take anyone to condemnation. Of course, if we have to, that’s an option.”

In other business, Councilwoman Roberta Greene told her colleagues the city received several complaints about odors at the Spokane compost plant last weekend.

Greene said the Solid Waste Liaison Board on Monday discussed the possibility of buying air-conditioning units for neighbors who think the plant smells.

Some of the people who oppose the plant’s locations don’t have air conditioners and must leave their windows open, Greene said.

No formal action was taken, Greene said.

, DataTimes