Improvements On 57th West Of Palouse Will Stop At Perry

Transportation

Spokane County will widen nearly two miles of 57th Avenue next year, adding sidewalks, a bicycle path, and left-turn lane in the middle of the thoroughfare.

But the project will connect with the city-owned stretch of 57th, which will remain unimproved for the foreseeable future.

“We are not a seamless government,” County Engineer Bill Johns said during last week’s county commissioner’s meeting.

The $2.5 million county project will run from Perry at the Spokane city limits to the Palouse Highway, nearly two miles to the east.

The project is being funded with a $2 million federal grant and $500,000 in county money.

It will serve traffic in the fast-growing area of Moran Prairie.

“I admit we have a problem at Perry,” Johns told commissioners.

Assistant City Manager Dave Mandyke said the city has no plans to widen its stretch of 57th or Scott Street between High Drive and 57th.

“We think there are more pressing needs,” Mandyke said.

In recent years the city has been unable to do much street repaving, much less widening projects.

The six-year street plan for the city includes a $1.9 million project to extend Southeast Boulevard from 31st Avenue to Regal Street in 1999.

The city for years has wanted to build the Ray Street extension from 35th Avenue to the Palouse Highway at a cost of $3.7 million in the year 2001.

In future years, the city is planning improvements to Havana from 37th to Glenrose; Hatch Road from 57th Avenue to U.S. Highway 195; Qualchan Drive; and the Cheney-Spokane Road.

Mandyke said widening of 57th west of Perry and Scott would push other traffic bottlenecks farther north. Problems with excess traffic already are raising concerns along High Drive and the Cannon’s Addition neighborhood.

Commuters use High Drive, Maple and Walnut streets to access the freeway and downtown.

Currently, 57th Avenue carries about 12,000 vehicles a day, which is fairly high for a two-lane arterial, county officials said.

A lot of walkers, cyclists and joggers use the arterial, so a 4-foot bike lane and sidewalks are being included to improve public safety, they said.

Construction is expected to begin next spring.

, DataTimes