Retail Growth Sets Stage For Traffic Jams In Valley
Thousands of consumers will flood new retail developments in the Spokane Valley beginning this summer and fall, creating one of the region’s greatest economic booms - and one of its worst problems.
Traffic.
A computer program designed by Spokane County engineers and the state Department of Transportation shows just how bad traffic will become on the Sullivan corridor near Interstate 90.
A simulated computer projection shows tiny cars southbound on Sullivan backed up past the intersection with Indiana during peak weekday hours - 4 to 6 p.m.
Northbound cars traveling over the freeway on Sullivan are reduced to one lane as cars overflow the left turn lane.
“Keep in mind - historically, we have forecast low, not high (traffic volumes),” said James Haines, a program development engineer in the county’s division of engineering and roads. “It may really be slightly worse than what we’re showing you.”
That’s not all.
The Evergreen Interchange, designed to relieve freeway traffic at Sullivan and Pines, is about $5 million short of funding.
Money is being contributed by the county, state, and private developers, but there’s still a shortfall, Haines said.
The county was hoping the state budget would include more money for transportation improvements, but funding levels remained about the same, Haines said.
“That’s why we’re trying to get the word out that we need help,” Harper said.
Transportation officials began visiting civic groups and governmental boards two months ago to explain the problem and ask for help. They’ve spoken with county commissioners, the Valley Chamber of Commerce, economic development experts and a civil engineers association.
No further development can occur on the Spokane Valley Mall site - aside from what’s currently under construction - until the Evergreen Interchange is built.
Other development projects also are coming on line that are sure to increase traffic, including Mirabeau Point, a business, residential and recreational development northwest of the Valley Mall, Black’s Valley Mall, which is east of Wal-Mart and could include a new hotel, and the Lawson/Gunning project, with an RV park, retirement units and a nursing home, west of the mall.
The state and county plan improvements to Evergreen and to the Pines interchange to help alleviate traffic congestion at Sullivan.
Evergreen will be widened to five lanes from Sharp, just south of the mall, to Sprague. Second lanes will be added to the Pines eastbound offramp and westbound on-ramp. A second eastbound turn lane also will be added to Pines at Mission.
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