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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

City Votes To Replace Section Of Trent

Kristina Johnson Staff Writer

Realigning Trent Avenue to make way for a college campus expansion and to replace an aging bridge could increase traffic in the already congested Logan area, neighbors say.

The Spokane City Council voted unanimously Monday to accept $840,000 in state money to design South River Drive - a section of road planned for south of the Spokane River between Hamilton and Division streets.

South River Drive will replace the section of Trent running between those streets. The exact route for the new street has not been decided, but it will be south of the present Trent Avenue.

The new street would make it easier for the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institue to expand its campus, said Phil Williams, the city’s planning and engineering services director.

The dilapidated Trent bridge that crosses the river also would be replaced.

“This project is a very interesting one, a very exciting one,” said Williams. “The state Department of Transportation is intent on getting rid of that old bridge.”

Logan resident Joan Moran said her neighborhood favored building the new street, but cautioned the city against increased traffic problems in surrounding areas.

“Be sure, when you (accept these) dollars, there’s money left to mitigate the problems you’re creating,” said Joan Moran, a Logan resident. “It’s going to cause some problems down Hamilton Street with the traffic.”

The city plans to use some money collected from the real estate excise tax to finance the project, which concerned Logan resident Jeanette Harras. The tax money is slated for growth-related projects.

“I question whether this is really a growth-related issue,” Harras said. “You’re doing this primarily so the campus can expand in a more logical manner.”

In other business, the City Council voted unanimously to vacate about 2,660 square feet at the southwest corner of Garland Avenue and Division Street.

, DataTimes